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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
\n
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\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 1 of 6 1 2 … 6
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates New Schools for Vulnerable Communities in the Philippines","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-new-schools-for-vulnerable-communities-in-the-philippines","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:04","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25808","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25803,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-18 12:23:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-18 17:23:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates New Schools for Vulnerable Communities in the Philippines","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-new-schools-for-vulnerable-communities-in-the-philippines","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:04","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25808","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25803,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-18 12:23:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-18 17:23:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates New Schools for Vulnerable Communities in the Philippines","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-new-schools-for-vulnerable-communities-in-the-philippines","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:04","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25808","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25803,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-18 12:23:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-18 17:23:00","post_content":"\n

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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates New Schools for Vulnerable Communities in the Philippines","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-new-schools-for-vulnerable-communities-in-the-philippines","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:04","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25808","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25803,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-18 12:23:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-18 17:23:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Water Pipelines in Rural Bhutan\u00a0","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:19","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25780","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25768,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-16 22:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-17 03:30:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned to the city of Gaziantep in southern T\u00fcrkiye on 9 October to mark the official completion and inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* The Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea initiated the project in the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria border region, in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a full year of construction work by volunteers from the White Helmets civil organization, Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4,000 students, has been completed. The new building features a basement and three above-ground floors, 122 rooms, including 52 classrooms, and space for science laboratories, libraries, and conference rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 16, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to T\u00fcrkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-update-ven-pomnyun-sunim-returns-to-turkiye-to-inaugurate-post-earthquake-school-project","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:40:39","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:40:39","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25768","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25690,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-10-02 23:12:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-03 04:12:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) returned in early September to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a wide range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of daily life and explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his latest visit, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim held a three-day workshop on sustainable development for rural communities in central Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea in cooperation with the royal family and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After several days of almost non-stop international and domestic travel, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in central Bhutan, where he was to lead the three-day seminar. Attended by civic leaders from five gewog**<\/em> villages in Zhemgang and Trongsa districts, the gathering was aimed at providing a forum to propose and explore pilot projects for sustainable development in their communities. The workshop was attended by 34 central government officials, gewog<\/em> leaders, and village leaders from Korphu Gewog in Trongsa District, and Bardo, Goshing, Phangkhar, and Nangla Gewogs in Zhemgang District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on October 2, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development at Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-explores-sustainable-development-at-three-day-workshop-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:45:14","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:45:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25690","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-09-13 22:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-14 03:57:00","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea returned to southern T\u00fcrkiye on 28 August to review progress on a school project that JTS initiated in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern T\u00fcrkiye and parts of Syria in February 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after reports of last year\u2019s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in T\u00fcrkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support for those in need.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 August, the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS team were welcomed by volunteers from the White Helmets organization, who gave them a tour of the school project, which, when completed, will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Sunim first came to survey the earthquake-damaged area, the school was completely collapsed and in a dilapidated state. Today, a beautiful new building in pastel colors stood tall,\u201d JTS remarked. \u201cThis school is being rebuilt as part of the T\u00fcrkiye-Syria earthquake recovery project, a collaboration between JTS and the White Helmets.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on September 13, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-on-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Post-Earthquake School Project in T\u00fcrkiye","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-review-progress-of-post-earthquake-school-project-in-turkiye","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:41:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:41:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20131,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:37:39","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:39","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea, accompanied by a delegation from the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), attended a formal ceremony on 18 July to inaugurate two new buildings for a Buddhist orphanage in the western Thai province of Kanchanaburi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orphanage, operated under the Dhammanulak Children\u2019s Foundation and managed by Buddhist nun Maechee Chutipa, has undergone a year-long project sponsored by JTS Korea to renovate and remodel the residential buildings for the 80 girls and boys of all ages under the orphanage\u2019s care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is a wonderful refuge for children without families who can take care of them, but it\u2019s very challenging for the nun who is managing the orphanage\u2014they have very little money and the facilities here are very basic,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told BDG during the handover ceremony. \u201cWhen I learned about the conditions here, through INEB, I made a decision to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first visited the orphanage, I found that the buildings were rather dilapidated and not very suitable for young children, so I made the decision to fund renovation because I wanted to see the quality of life for these children improved\u2014better accommodation, better washrooms, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave the foundation two options: do you prefer renovation or to rebuild completely? And Maechee Chutipa requested renovation of the male and female dormitories. Although we initially we approached this as a renovation project, as we progressed we found more and more areas in need of improvement, so we decided that it would be more effective to completely remodel the buildings here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJTS initially projected the cost to be about US$50,000, but since we decided to carry out further improvements, the project cost has risen to more than US$60,000, which means that we can also include provide additional facilities, such as new private showers next to the female dormitories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates Remodeled Orphanage in Thailand","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-remodeled-orphanage-in-thailand","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:37:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:37:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20131","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":20124,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-07-23 13:25:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:47","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea conducted relief efforts in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on 12 July in response to catastrophic flooding that has affected the region during the recent monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months of monsoon rains have inundated northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, with prolonged heavy rains, particularly during the middle of June, causing widespread floods and landslides as river levels rose to dangerous levels. Media reports indicated that 79 people had been killed in the flooding, with more than 300,000 displaced as the flood waters submerged homes and inundated farmland. Assam regularly experiences large-scale destruction with each monsoon season due to its expansive network of rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JTS Korea\u2019s emergency relief team was dispatched to Assam on 9 July to conduct a preliminary survey of conditions on the ground and to prepare relief supplies. Among the areas surveyed, the village of Puragaon in Morigaon District was found to be in a particularly precarious situation, having received no external aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived, three villages in the area were submerged beneath floodwaters, affecting 1,067 households. The displaced residents had been living in tents on an intact riverbank for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on July 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Conduct Emergency Relief in Assam after Severe Floods","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-conduct-emergency-relief-in-assam-after-severe-floods","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-07-23 13:25:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-07-23 18:25:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=20124","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Inaugurates New Schools for Vulnerable Communities in the Philippines","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-new-schools-for-vulnerable-communities-in-the-philippines","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:04","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25808","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25803,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-18 12:23:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-18 17:23:00","post_content":"\n

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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, has announced that its popular online study and practice course for Buddhist practitioners, Jungto Dharma School, will return on 4 March 2025, with online registration now open until 11 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn the original teachings of the Buddha under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),\u201d Jungto Society stated in an announcement shared with BDG. \u201cYou will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life. As students of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrine\u2014the Buddha\u2019s core teachings\u2014but will also gain practical wisdom that can help you to resolve various problems in your lives. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School more than 30 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus\u2014Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I\u2014which is now available to students of Buddhism all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThroughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives,\u201d Jungto Society noted. \u201cThis 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with the Buddhist teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Dharma School\u2019s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha\u2019s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course, which begins on 4 March 2025, is open to all, regardless of religion, age, or academic background. There is a weekly commitment of a 70-minute online group meetup, with self-paced learning materials, and home-practice exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 18, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Online Dharma: Jungto Society Announces 2025 Intake for Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"online-dharma-jungto-society-announces-2025-intake-for-jungto-dharma-school-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:46:30","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:46:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25803","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25798,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-12-09 12:18:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:18:00","post_content":"\n

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The Korean Seon (Zen) master and engaged Buddhist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, founder and chairman of the international relief organization Join Together Society (JTS), led a team of volunteers to Bangladesh on 2 December to deliver 6.36 million bars of soap to a refugee camp that is home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution and violence in neighboring Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest donation follows the earlier success of the JTS relief project, when, in September 2022 and January 2019, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim led aid representatives to deliver consignments of gas stoves for refugees in Cox\u2019s Bazar, a district of Bangladesh\u2019s Chittagong Division.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After arriving in Bangladesh, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim headed for a meeting at the UNHCR\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar office, to receive a breakdown of the present situation at the refugee camp: \u201cAbout a million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox\u2019s Bazar. Of these, 97 per cent reside in the Cox\u2019s Bazar camp, while the remaining 3 per cent live on Bhasan Char Island. The main reason for moving to Bhasan Char Island is the safer security environment,\u201d the UNHCR\u2019s senior operations coordinator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past two years, the security situation in the camp has significantly deteriorated. Conflicts between various criminal organizations within the camp have doubled the crime rate, severely compromising security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to budget cuts by the World Food Programme, the monthly food support per person decreased from US$12 to US$8 last year. Although the support amount recovered to US$12.50 at the beginning of this year, the reduction had a serious impact on the nutritional status in the camp. For example, the malnutrition rate in 2023 was 15.1 per cent, exceeding the threshold of 15 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the housing in the camp consists of temporary structures made of bamboo and tarpaulin. The Bangladesh government maintains a policy that all refugees must return to Myanmar, so it does not allow long-term and durable housing improvement measures.\u201d (Jungto Society)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on December 9, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-the-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring 6 Million Bars of Soap to Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-volunteers-bring-6-million-bars-of-soap-to-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-30 19:39:54","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-31 00:39:54","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=25798","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":25780,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-11-04 00:02:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-11-04 05:02:00","post_content":"\n

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The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) recently returned to Bhutan, where he has been conducting a range of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, aiming to improve the quality of life and to explore sustainable development projects that could serve as models to be replicated around the world.* During his four-day visit from 28\u201331 October, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted rural site visits to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two landmark water projects for villages that had been experiencing shortages of potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s undertakings in Bhutan are being implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with Bhutan\u2019s royal family and government. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one\u2019s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is operated and manned by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including a 10-hour drive along winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived at Nabji Village in central Bhutan\u2019s Trongsa District. Over the previous two months, Nabji residents had been working on paving the roads within the village. The main events during Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s visit on this occasion were formal completion ceremonies for water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on November 4, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-water-pipelines-in-rural-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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