jungtosociety Archives - Jungto Society

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Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","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) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","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) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026
February 18, 2026
214

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Jungto Member Interview – Aram Lee
December 7, 2025
144

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Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw
October 23, 2025
166

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Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim
September 5, 2025
262

Jungto News
In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025
May 10, 2025
3.2k

Jungto News
Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul
January 9, 2025
169

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Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula
June 21, 2024
56

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Chasing Happiness
May 31, 2024
706

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Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries in Bhutan
May 22, 2024
67

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May 22, 2024
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Jungto Society is a community of Buddhist practitioners who seek to free themselves of suffering in their daily lives and to make the world a better place.
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\"\" — <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","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) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
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In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
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One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
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Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
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Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
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Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
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My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
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When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2026","post_excerpt":"Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s global schedule as we finalize this year\u2019s dates and locations. Discover practical Buddhist insights for finding immediate peace of mind and navigating life\u2019s challenges without stress.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2026","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-04 12:05:55","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-04 17:05:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=34025","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":32678,"post_author":"83","post_date":"2025-12-07 08:37:54","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-07 13:37:54","post_content":"
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>","post_title":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025","post_excerpt":"In-Person Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in 2025 offers accessible Buddhist insights for peace and clarity. Join us in Seoul (Aug 22), Paris (Sep 9), D\u00fcsseldorf (Sep 11), New York City (Sep 27), Toronto (Sep 28), and Japan (Nov, TBD).","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"in-person-casual-conversation-with-ven-pomnyun-sunim-in-2025","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-12 04:59:31","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-12 09:59:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=28390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":24948,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-01-09 14:01:09","post_date_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:01:09","post_content":"\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","post_content":"\n
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The revered Korean Dharma master and socially engaged Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","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 have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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 event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found above.<\/p>\n
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Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>\n
T<\/em>his is a translated version of an article originally published in Korean on July 2nd, 2025 on the Korean Jungto Society Website (https:\/\/jungto.org\/edu\/view\/85297)<\/i><\/p>\n
Aram Lee has been an active volunteer since joining Jungto Society a few years ago. Talking with her reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada, perhaps because she works as a fashion designer in New York. I was excited to speak with someone from such a glamorous industry. Let me share the story of how a New York fashion designer became a Jungto volunte<\/i>er.<\/p>
Always Longing<\/strong><\/p>\n
I have been living in New York for the last 23 years, working as a bag designer. I grew up in Korea, where I saw limited career prospects due to gender discrimination. I decided to study abroad in the United States, which turned out to be the right choice for me. In the early 2000s, the U.S. economy was booming, and demand for designer products was high. The bags I designed sold well in the U.S. market, and orders poured in from department stores. The company I worked for valued performance over gender, age, or race. I was promoted, and my salary increased significantly. I enjoyed every moment and felt unstoppable in my career, becoming head designer in my early 30s.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Featured in an online magazine as head designer]<\/p>
However, once I became the head designer\u2014a position that had always seemed so glamorous\u2014the headaches began. I had already reached the goal I\u2019d set for myself as a designer, and as a manager, I now had to handle sales, market trends, factory management, and internal politics. Solving each issue gave me brief joy and excitement, but it never lasted long. I felt I should keep moving upward, but I had already achieved my goal and didn\u2019t know what the next one was. Maintaining my current position alone required a great deal of energy. I felt stagnant and thirsty for growth.<\/p>
Work no longer felt enjoyable. I stayed at the company only for the paycheck, with no better option. In my mid-30s, the thought of living like that for decades to come felt exhausting and painful. As a head designer, it wasn\u2019t easy to change jobs either. For around five years, I constantly asked myself, \u201dShould I quit? How will I make a living? It\u2019s such a waste to give it up!\u201d Wanting to escape the rat race of corporate life, I boldly quit my job, but running my own business turned out to be an even bigger challenge.<\/p>
While I was deeply focused on my business, the pandemic hit. The projects I had been preparing disappeared overnight. It felt empty, yet in a way, I was also relieved. Thanks to COVID-19, I finally had a legitimate reason to take a break and rest with peace of mind.<\/p>
It\u2019s Okay to Stop\u00a0<\/b><\/p>
Around that time, my older sister sent me a registration link for the Happiness School, a Venerable Pomnyun Sunim-led program in Korea where participants learn to find their path to happiness. She had often sent me videos of Buddhist teachings or links to Jungto Dharma School, but since I held a negative view of religion, I ignored them.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>
This time, however, I was intrigued, because my sister had changed so much. When she got divorced three years earlier, she had seemed on the verge of breaking down at any moment. But when I saw her again three years later, she was a completely different person. During a family trip, she performed 300 prostrations each day as part of her 1,000-day practice, and she could even talk comfortably on the phone with her ex-husband, whom I thought she would never speak to again. Watching her sweat through her 300 prostrations in the heat, I thought, \u201cShe\u2019s being so showy,\u201d yet I couldn\u2019t help but admire her confidence and composure.<\/p>
Curious about her transformation, and reassured by the low commitment of needing to attend for \u201cjust one month, four sessions total,\u201d I decided to join the Happiness School with a light heart. The one-month program brought me many surprises. I became deeply interested in the foundation of this study and wanted to learn more. I went on to complete Jungto Dharma School programs and the training program for volunteers, and even participated in Jungto pilgrimage to the sacred sites in India. After serving as a facilitator five times, I now volunteer as an interviewer and as a coordinator for Jungto Dharma School.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto pilgrimage to India]<\/p>
My Mind Shattered into a Million Pieces and Reconfigured Anew<\/b><\/p>
Jungto Dharma School shattered my mind into many pieces and then reassembled it. My perspective on life was redefined. The Buddhist concepts of suffering and happiness once felt like wordplay to me. How could happiness and suffering be one and the same? But then I realized that when I was excitedly chasing after a big goal, I called it happiness, and when I couldn\u2019t, I called it suffering. I began to see where my suffering truly came from.<\/p>
I had thought that a life was inevitably full of pain, and happiness was only an abstract idea that does not actually exist. But while volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School facilitator, I realized that life could become calm and abundant even without chasing after a goal or striving to grow. Happiness became real to me. The world outside the well was vast, yet I had been living trapped inside it, mistaking that small space for the entire world and struggling in vain.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Jungto Dharma School\u2019s Graduation Ceremony, Aram Lee highlighted in blue]<\/p>
Doing What I Can, Here and Now<\/b><\/p>
My Myeongshimmun (editor: directly translated as \u201cwords to remember\u201d \u2013 they serve as a personal mantra to orient each Jungto practitioner) is, \u201cDo what I can, here and now.\u201d After graduating from middle school, you go to high school; after graduating from high school, you go to college. I lived my life constantly planning ahead, believing something terrible would happen if I ever stopped moving forward. I thought I had to make plans and live strictly according to them. But I learned that life doesn\u2019t unfold just because you plan it that way, and that trying to simulate a distant future only heightens anxiety. When my mind becomes anxious by imagining the future, I recall my Myeongshimmun and focus on what I can do right now. The anxiety settles, and I become calm.<\/p>
This Myeongshimmun has been a great help in my daily life. Because my work has no fixed schedule, there are times when everything piles up all at once and other times when there is no work at all. I used to think I wouldn\u2019t be able to volunteer on a regular schedule, but I managed to overcome this thought by recalling the Myeongshimmun and telling myself, \u201cDon\u2019t look too far ahead. Just volunteer as much as you can right now.\u201d Once I actually began volunteering, my time management became more organized. When work piles up and I start to feel rushed, I recall the Myeongshimmun; developing new products and working with that mindset makes the work flow more smoothly.<\/p>
My Dream<\/b><\/p>
Another volunteer asked me, \u201cIs there something within Jungto Society you hope to do in the future?\u201d At first, nothing in particular came to mind. Then suddenly, I got an idea: hosting and facilitating Jungto Dharma School classes with my American spouse.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Volunteering for the New Jersey Dharma Talk event in 2023, Aram Lee standing. To her left in the green sweater is her spouse]<\/p>
In my marriage, I had always been self-righteous. When my husband wanted to purchase flower decorations for our wedding or repair a perfectly functioning bathroom just because he thought it looked old, those things seemed pointless to me. Whenever he was doing something useless or pointless from my perspective, I tried my very best to prove that I was right. If he didn\u2019t accept my ways the first time, I repeated the same arguments a second, third, however many times it took until he agreed.<\/p>
Now, even when I argue heatedly, there are moments when I suddenly see myself from a third-person point of view, as if I\u2019ve stepped outside myself. When that happens, my husband says, \u201cYou are actually being self-aware,\u201d amused by the change in me. I also feel like I\u2019ve softened a bit.<\/p>
My husband still has not taken Jungto Dharma School yet. He has a laidback personality and doesn\u2019t want to be tied to a program with a fixed schedule. Instead, he occasionally attends short workshops and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s English talks. I keep sending him videos and articles related to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from time to time. Just as I used to skim past the things my older sister sent me, my husband now skims past what I send him. But just as there came a moment when I became curious about my sister\u2019s transformed way of life, I believe there will come a moment when my husband becomes curious about the changes in me. When that time comes, maybe we\u2019ll be able to host Jungto Dharma School classes together.<\/p>
Translator\u2019s note: Aram Lee\u2019s spouse is currently enrolled in Jungto Dharma School.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2014<\/em>
Picturing Aram and her husband running Jungto Dharma School classes together warmed my heart. Following the interview, her Myeongshimmun, \u201cDo what I can, here and now,\u201d stuck with me. When I was writing her interview piece, the unstable domestic politics and economies in Korea around the presidential impeachment gave me anxiety. Like Aram, I reminded myself of her Myeongshimmun. I watered my house plants and focused on the tasks in front of me. That helped keep me away from anxiety.<\/em>
\u2014<\/em><\/p>
Original article written by Myungjoo Koh (Jungto\u2019s International Division, Pacific Asian Region) <\/em>
Edited by Yunhee Kim (Jungto\u2019s Korean Division, Kangwon-Eastern Kyungki Region, Yongin) <\/em>
Translated by Hajeong Lim (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region) & Sanghoon Han (Jungto\u2019s International Division, North America-European Region)<\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview \u2013 Aram Lee","post_excerpt":"This is an interview with Aram Lee, a New York fashion designer who transitioned into an active volunteer with the Jungto Society after finding her career stagnant and seeking a meaningful change. Her journey began after noticing the profound, positive transformation in her sister following her participation in a Jungto program, leading Lee to redefine her perspective on suffering, happiness, and living in the present.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-aram-lee","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-12-12 01:34:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-12-12 06:34:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=32678","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31571,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-10-23 20:31:41","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:41","post_content":"
Weekly Doses of Sanity<\/strong><\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I took a break from attending Jungto Society\u2019s weekly Dharma meetings when they went fully online at the peak of Covid-19. That is also when English became the default language in the meetings. Since English is my second language, I did not feel comfortable sharing my feelings in English. It took a couple of years of break before I began attending the meetings fairly regularly on Wednesday evenings. Most people in my group are Koreans, except for a few who come and go like a revolving door. But Frank was always there whenever I joined. On many occasions, he was the only non-Korean member out of 20-25 people. So I got curious: what brings him back every Wednesday?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s his story that I wanted to share with you.<\/i><\/p>
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London, Canada<\/b><\/p>\n
I currently live in London, Canada. It is a multicultural and diverse place with a population of about 400,000. London is known as the Forest City due to its many trees and big parks. It\u2019s been a very pleasant place to live and grow up in. I was born here in 1964 and grew up in a loving family. I left home in my young adult age for a decade in British Columbia, came back and now I am settled here.<\/p>\n
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[Frank Shaw in his loving home]<\/p>
My parents were loving and religious. They went to different Protestant churches. My father was especially devoted to his church, which I was also raised in. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago. I deeply respect him. I can say that he lives on as my internal moral compass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when I was younger my perspective was different. I was rebellious when I was a teenager. I was defiant not so much to my parents as they were very loving but to what I saw as an unjust society and its institutions including the religious ones. I reveled in my anarchism and was a punk rock singer in the 1980's, in a band called Bits of Food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Vancouver and away from Home<\/b><\/p>\n
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In 1990 I made the move along with my friends to British Columbia. I lived in an off-grid land co-op for a few years. The nearest powerline was 10 miles away. My circle of friends then were highly influenced by native american spirituality. I attended a number of Native American church ceremonies and sweat lodge ceremonies during my time there. If you don\u2019t know what that is, it\u2019s a spiritual sauna experience in a small tent in nature. Steam is created with hot stones, and you pray inside. You cleanse your body and spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Along the way, I got to know about Buddhism. I read books about the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. I liked Buddhism\u2019s compassion over Christianity\u2019s cruelty.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his backyard garlic farm]<\/p>
Back to Hometown<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my mid 30\u2019s, I came back to my hometown to look after my elderly father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I went back to college and met my wonderful partner in life Mia Jang. I took classes to become a caregiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. I currently work at a group home. A small group of staff take care of four people in shifts 24\/7. Sometimes I get to go to concerts and hockey games as a support worker. Although my work can have its challenging moments, I feel I am very fortunate to have a job like this, as it is serving others.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and his wife Mia Jang]<\/p>
I got to know about the Jungto Society and Venerable Pomnyun Sunim from Mia. I noticed how much these teachings brought her a sense of calmness and had transformed her life. I took both Introduction to Buddhism courses at Jungto Dharma School. She practices every morning. Unfortunately I can\u2019t do that. My work schedule changes a lot and I can\u2019t predict what the next two week\u2019s schedule will be in advance. Instead, I join Wednesday weekly Dharma meetings. That is my weekly dose of sanity. I really appreciate Jason\u2019s clear interpretation of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s great teachings. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank and Mia during Dharma School 2024 ]<\/p>
I take a pause each week and I listen to the Dharma. I try to apply Dharma teachings that I learn from weekly meetings into my daily life. Although I consider myself to be a pretty happy person, I still suffer, usually from tripping over my own two feet. I don\u2019t tend to react as badly as I used to or at least that upsetting state doesn\u2019t stay as long as before. I feel less stuck, while I am still dealing with some deeply rooted personal issues. It has helped my marriage too. Mia and I are both very unique but we share a common ground with the Dharma. <\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Frank Shaw and Mia Jang volunteering at Dharma Q&A Event in Toronto 2025.]<\/p>
Interviewer\u2019s comment:\u00a0<\/i>When Frank told me about growing garlic in his backyard during the interview, I pictured a small bed of vegetable garden on one side. But his picture showed more of a garlic farm that took almost the entire backyard. I would like to thank Frank for sharing his stories from his childhood, his off-grid years, about his work, his happy garlic farm, and for being a steady anchor in Dharma meetings every Wednesday evening. I look forward to seeing him in the next Wednesday meeting. <\/em><\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Frank Shaw","post_excerpt":"Frank Shaw, a longtime participant of Jungto Society\u2019s Wednesday Dharma meetings in London, Canada, often joins as the only non-Korean among 20 to 25 members.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-frank-shaw","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:35:08","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:35:08","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=31571","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":30544,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-09-05 10:10:17","post_date_gmt":"2025-09-05 15:10:17","post_content":" $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
Interviewer\u2019s comment: I met Patty in 2016 when I just started going to Jungto Society\u2019s Weekly Dharma Meetings in New York. There was a Jungto Dharma Center in Manhattan back then, before the organization transitioned to a fully online system and created their international division to focus on spreading the Dharma to non-Korean speakers. After Patty moved to San Diego several years ago, I had lost touch with her for quite some time, and this interview was a great opportunity to catch up with her. She told me that her life in San Diego has been filled with much more freedom than it was in New York. I was glad to hear that she is well and happy in San Diego, and hearing her stories made me ask myself, \u201cShould I also live somewhere other than New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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[Patty Kim (third adult from the left) with Jungto members and their babies in 2019]<\/p>
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How My Journey with Jungto Society Began<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
One day in 2012, while I lived in Seoul, South Korea, my mother mentioned to me that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim would make an appearance on a popular TV show, Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy<\/i>. As I watched the episode, the beautiful backdrop of the mountain scenery where the interview took place caught my eyes. His interview was at Jungto Retreat Center in the Baekhwa Mountains in Mungyeong, about 170 km Southeast from Seoul. It led me to sign up for Jungto Society\u2019s Awakening Retreat program right away, and I ended up loving it so much that I offered to volunteer in the kitchen for another cohort of the program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later, I got a job in Bangkok, Thailand, which made it difficult to stay engaged in Jungto Society activities. I came to halt my mindfulness practices in daily life as well, until my work brought me to New York in 2014. I started Jungto Dharma School in 2015, taking the Introduction to Buddhism course in Korean, followed by a Meditation Retreat, the Sutra Course, and volunteer work at a Jungto Society retreat. After moving to San Diego, I joined the new international division and became a member of the LA Group. Since 2021, I\u2019ve been a volunteer in the English translation review team and in 2023, I got to attend the Sharing Retreat.<\/p>\n
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[Patty Kim (leftmost) from Manhattan Jungto Center\u2019s self promotion video clip in 2018]<\/p>
Life in New York\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was fortunate to have a stable job at a prestigious organization in New York with good benefits. It was a career that I had chosen and worked hard to achieve, but I had a difficult time dealing with the stress I felt and, in combination with other personal factors, I fell into a depression. The Jungto Center in Manhattan became a refuge for me and the Sunday Dharma meetings became a weekly highlight. Being able to connect with fellow practitioners and share what we were going through helped me a lot. I also began taking medication and seeing a therapist regularly to keep my mental health from getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people would consider my career a dream job, but for me, there was a lot of inner conflict and suffering. And, whenever I wondered to myself, \u201cWhat might be a better fit?\u201d Traditional East Asian Medicine would come up. I thought about it for years but I was too scared to act on it. I was also petrified of disappointing my parents, especially my mom.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (rightmost) at Manhattan Jungto Center in 2020 before moving to San Diego]<\/p>
Less Fear, More Freedom<\/p>\n
While I continued to suffer from the ebbs and flows of depression caused by my unwillingness to accept being anything other than the idealized version of myself, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everything seemed to freeze in place. The sudden change in my daily routine allowed the spark of Yusoo Sunim\u2019s teaching from years before to come to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back in 2012, at one of Jungto Society\u2019s programs, I had shared that when I thought about the future, I felt incredibly unsure \u2013 that it was like looking into a pitch black night. After hearing my words, Yusoo Sunim calmly said how we don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen in the next moment so how could we see into the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me a long time to realize that letting go of my desire to always stand on solid ground \u2013 and to instead open up my mind to the here and now \u2013 would actually lead to a better future. But, being in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the pandemic, I finally felt how fleeting life can be. I told myself, \u201cLet\u2019s stop with the excuses and do what I really want to do, without speculating about a future that I cannot predict.\u201d Surprisingly, once I finally made up my mind, I felt a sense of calmness and my mind was cleared of any doubt about the future because I started focusing more on the present.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim in California in 2025]<\/p>
Becoming a True Adult<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I decided to behave like the owner of my own life, I came to view the 11 years I spent at my job with gratitude rather than regret. And from this gratitude, I earned the capacity to exit my career without blaming myself or feeling resentful towards others. I realized I had worked at the job for the past 11 years because I wanted to and that I had had a great experience.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty Kim (top right) in a Jungto volunteer call in 2025]<\/p>
I started to make decisions with my own well-being at the center and put aside my worries about letting down my mom and that she wouldn\u2019t understand me. As a result, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. Interestingly, I also came to realize that, in the end, my mom just wants her daughter to be happy and that if I am happy, so would she! In this way, after turning 40, I finally began to feel like I had become a real adult.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother did end up needing some time to accept my career change, but today, she is once again my number one cheerleader and tells me she is proud of me for who I am. I also feel extremely lucky to be with my husband and thank him for never hesitating to support my decision to let go of a large annual salary, change paths, and spend four years getting a medical degree.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking back, although it had felt like I was making a huge decision at the time, it doesn\u2019t seem that big of a deal now. All I know is that I have this one life and I want to be happy by being useful and helping others be happy too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interviewer\u2019s comment: Patty and I reconnected for this interview in March 2025. Patty was in the middle of studying for her licensing exam after graduating with her Doctorate Degree in December 2024. She told me that acupuncture has helped with her depression a lot, and it confirmed her passion in seeking a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit through acupuncture and herbal medicine. She seemed sure of herself and well grounded in every positive way when she told me that she finally feels like an adult. It made me realize what it means to be the driver of one\u2019s own life. It was not the move to San Diego that made her happy\u2013it was the growth within her.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
[Patty in a Doctor\u2019s White Coat in 2025]<\/p>","post_title":"Jungto Member Interview – Patty Kim","post_excerpt":"After discovering Jungto Society through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s appearance on Healing Camp in 2012, Patty\u2019s journey led her from Seoul to Bangkok, New York, and now San Diego, where she continues her practice and volunteer work with the international division.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"jungto-member-interview-patty-kim","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-10-23 20:31:02","post_modified_gmt":"2025-10-24 01:31:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=30544","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":28390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2025-05-10 23:31:47","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 04:31:47","post_content":" $\"2025$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0August 22, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Seoul, South Korea<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 9, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Paris, France<\/strong>\u00a0[French]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 11, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0D\u00fcsseldorf, Germany<\/strong>\u00a0[German]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York City, United States<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0September 28, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Toronto, Canada<\/strong>\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ October 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0Baltimore, United States\u00a0[English]<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\ud83d\uddd3\"$ \u00a0November 27, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan<\/strong>\u00a0[Japanese]<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has been engaged in dialogue with the public for decades sharing the Dharma with people from various religious and cultural backgrounds. His unique approach to tackling life\u2019s challenges, grounded in the original teachings of the Buddha, offers clear and easily accessible insights. Through his guidance, many have found immediate peace of mind and the confidence to face life\u2019s challenges without despair or stress.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
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$\"\ud83d\udcac\"$ Casual Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n
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We\u2019re excited to announce that Ven. Pomnyun Sunim will be hosting Q&A sessions in Manhattan, Toronto (English), Paris (French), and D\u00fcsseldorf (German). Don\u2019t miss this special opportunity to gather in person and learn from his wisdom. Save the date and register today!
The event is free and open to everyone. Given the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot. Registration forms can be found below.<\/p>\n
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Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications on event registration and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Jungto International practitioners from the Seoul 2 Group is embodying the bodhisattva spirit by reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds to spread true happiness and freedom. These practitioners, many of whom are not fluent in English, have taken on the challenge of connecting non-Koreans to Happiness 101, a pilot program designed to introduce English speakers to the teachings of the Buddha with minimal religious elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of hosting a program in English initially seemed daunting to group leader Huh In-sook. \u201cI\u2019m not a native English speaker,\u201d she emphasized. However, with encouragement from fellow members and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the group embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weight of the language barrier was felt from the moment they set out to advertise the program and encourage people to sign up on the streets. Kim Jin-sook recalled their efforts in bustling areas such as Jogyesa and Bongunsa, handing out flyers and striking up conversations. \u201cAt first, it was nerve-wracking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut soon, we learned to approach people with sincerity and engage them in meaningful discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Song-ju shared a creative approach she developed to work through people\u2019s resistance: instead of leading with religious questions, she would share postcards with inspiring messages. \"We'd simply say, 'Would you like to read something beautiful?' We gave out all the postcards like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Even those with minimal English proficiency found ways to connect. Hwang In-nam emphasized that language was secondary to intention. \u201cIt\u2019s about conveying sincerity and a sense of happiness,\u201d he explained. His memorable interaction with a young Pakistani participant highlighted the universal appeal of the program. \u201cWe connected over shared questions about life and happiness,\u201d he said, underscoring the power of authentic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not every attempt yielded immediate results, each experience was a step forward. Lee Mi-hwa, reflecting on her first-time participation, noted, \u201cWe\u2019re planting seeds. Even if they don\u2019t join right away, our efforts to share meaningful resources will resonate over time.\u201d One highlight for Lee was meeting participants from diverse backgrounds, such as visitors from the Philippines who expressed gratitude for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s humanitarian work in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kwak Yoon-kyung, a surprising success came from reaching out to a well-known Nepalese figure via social media. \u201cWhen he agreed to attend, it was an incredible moment,\u201d she said, illustrating how modern tools can bridge cultural gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group\u2019s efforts did not go without challenges. The team\u2019s excitement turned to huge disappointment when, despite nine registrations, no attendees joined one session of Happiness 101. However, this became a powerful lesson. \u201cThe experience reminded us to focus on the process,\u201d said Kim Jin-sook. \u201cThe act of coming together and preparing as a team is where the real value lies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This sentiment resonated with the entire group. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for all practitioners who aspire to spread the Buddha\u2019s teachings. We thank the Seoul 2 Group members for working together to spread happiness. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Happiness 101, please send an email at happiness101@jungto.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Hearts Speak Louder Than Words: Jungto Practitioners Break Language Barriers to Bring Happiness to the World in Seoul","post_excerpt":"Interview with Huh In-sook, Kim Jin-sook, Kim Song-joo, Hwang In-nam, Lee Mi-hwa, and Kwak Yoon-kyung","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hearts-speak-louder-than-words","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-01-09 14:02:22","post_modified_gmt":"2025-01-09 19:02:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=24948","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19684,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-06-21 13:17:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:47","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) led more than 10,000 people on 13 June (the eighth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar) in a Great Dharma Assembly for All Beings in a landmark ceremony for peace on the Korean Peninsula, under the theme \u201cToward a Future of 800 Years of Peace and Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-hour Dharma gathering was conducted in a public space adjacent to Jukrimjeong-sa, a Buddhist temple in South Korea\u2019s North Jeolla Province. Alongside some 10,000 members of Jungto Society, the ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Korea and overseas, among them: former Democratic Party leader, National Assembly speaker, and prime minister of South Korea (2020\u201321) Chung Sye-kyun; National Assembly member Joo Ho-young; and the mayor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Gwan-young; as well as many other prominent figures from across Korean society: politicians; senior representatives of religious communities, including Ven. Hwangsahn Hyechong, former head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and other eminent monks; members of the armed forces, social activists, scholars, celebrities, writers, and artists, all participating to express a shared aspiration for peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sacred occasion also commemorated the 160th birth anniversary of Master Baek Yongseong (1864\u20131940), a pre-eminent scholar and Seon (Zen) master of the late Joseon dynasty (1392\u20131897) who played an instrumental role in the restoration and reformation of the Buddhadharma on the Korean Peninsula, and was also a key figure in the historic March First Movement for Korean independence in 1919 that opposed Japanese colonial rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe Republic of Korea has become a developed nation after overcoming many difficulties, but it is now in crisis,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim explained ahead of the landmark Buddhist ceremony. \u201cMilitary tensions between the two Koreas are escalating, increasing the risk of war, and public opinion is becoming more divided. If peace and national unity are not ensured, growth potential will be exhausted, leading to long-term stagnation. To overcome this crisis and make the Republic of Korea a nation that greatly contributes to human happiness, we have organized this Dharma gathering of 10,000 people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dharma Assembly, hosted by the Baek Yongseong Commemoration Project Association and organized by Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, was conducted in two segments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part, emceed by popular actor Kim Byeong-jo, began with a traditional Korean drum performance and featured the ceremonial lighting of a peace flame, representing the deeply held aspirations of the Dharma Gathering: \u201cA peaceful Korean Peninsula, a happy society for citizens, and sustainable development.\u201d This was followed by the reading of a formal declaration for peace and national unity on the Korean Peninsula and a candlelight vigil for harmony and cooperation, representing the wishes of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second segment, led by talk-show host Kim Je-dong, featured all the participants joining in a mass chorus, a peace march, and a climactic performance of symbolic banners stating the aspirations of this historic event borne aloft by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on June 17, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Leads 10,000 People in Great Dharma Assembly for Peace on the Korean Peninsula","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"special-report-ven-pomnyun-sunim-leads-10000-people-in-great-dharma-assembly-for-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-06-21 13:17:50","post_modified_gmt":"2024-06-21 18:17:50","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19684","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-31 14:25:09","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:09","post_content":"\n
If you go after happiness
because you are currently unhappy,
you will be chasing happiness
for the rest of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Chasing Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chasing-happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-31 14:25:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-31 19:25:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19336,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:32:48","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:48","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) and volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea have been running a collaborative project from December 2023\u2013March 2024 to support female monastics across to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working together with the Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF), which operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck to educate and empower Buddhist nuns in Bhutan, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the team from JTS prepared winter supplies for distribution to national bhikshuni<\/em> training institutions to help the women residing and practicing there cope with the harsh winter climate.<\/p>\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
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In close cooperation with the BNF, JTS lent support to 1,585 young nuns across 36 nunneries, supplying essentials that included 590 winter jackets, 500 pairs of socks, 500 blankets, and 1,239 pairs of shoes. JTS also provided sports equipment to support the physical well-being of the young monastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to seeing bright smiles light up the faces of the young Buddhist nuns as a result of to their assistance, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS also received numerous messages of gratitude for their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for providing winter blankets to the nuns,\u201d said Ani Pema from Neylung Nunnery. \u201cI am pleased that they will help protect against the cold season. We are grateful to everyone who has helped the sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote, landlocked, and perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two political and economic heavy-hitters India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on May 22, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/news\/engaged-buddhism-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Korea Support Buddhist Nunneries 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-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-jts-korea-support-buddhist-nunneries-in-bhutan","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:32:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:32:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19336","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":19331,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-05-22 23:22:27","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:27","post_content":"\n
Happiness will not fall from the sky onto your path.
When you focus on the present
and do your best, your future will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Happiness","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"happiness","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-22 23:22:28","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-23 04:22:28","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=19331","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_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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