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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Page 21 of 24 1 20 21 22 24

\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

In the Buddha\u2019s time, severe discrimination based on race, gender, and class was common. But the Buddha said no one can be defined as either noble or lowly by birth.
A high social class does not make one noble, and a low social class does not make one lowly. Also, being a man does not make one noble, and being a woman does not make one lowly. He made a declaration of human rights that everyone in this world is equal.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

When the Buddha came to this world, he lit up the world for many people who were wandering in darkness. And so many people who were suffering mired in ignorance were able to attain wisdom through the Buddha\u2019s teachings and free themselves from suffering.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Buddha\u2019s time, severe discrimination based on race, gender, and class was common. But the Buddha said no one can be defined as either noble or lowly by birth.
A high social class does not make one noble, and a low social class does not make one lowly. Also, being a man does not make one noble, and being a woman does not make one lowly. He made a declaration of human rights that everyone in this world is equal.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

It has been 2566 years since his passing, which means he was born 2646 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Buddha came to this world, he lit up the world for many people who were wandering in darkness. And so many people who were suffering mired in ignorance were able to attain wisdom through the Buddha\u2019s teachings and free themselves from suffering.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Buddha\u2019s time, severe discrimination based on race, gender, and class was common. But the Buddha said no one can be defined as either noble or lowly by birth.
A high social class does not make one noble, and a low social class does not make one lowly. Also, being a man does not make one noble, and being a woman does not make one lowly. He made a declaration of human rights that everyone in this world is equal.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

It is also the day he attained enlightenment, as well as the day he passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been 2566 years since his passing, which means he was born 2646 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Buddha came to this world, he lit up the world for many people who were wandering in darkness. And so many people who were suffering mired in ignorance were able to attain wisdom through the Buddha\u2019s teachings and free themselves from suffering.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Buddha\u2019s time, severe discrimination based on race, gender, and class was common. But the Buddha said no one can be defined as either noble or lowly by birth.
A high social class does not make one noble, and a low social class does not make one lowly. Also, being a man does not make one noble, and being a woman does not make one lowly. He made a declaration of human rights that everyone in this world is equal.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n

Greetings to the members of IBC and fellow Buddhists around the world.
Today is the Buddha\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also the day he attained enlightenment, as well as the day he passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been 2566 years since his passing, which means he was born 2646 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Buddha came to this world, he lit up the world for many people who were wandering in darkness. And so many people who were suffering mired in ignorance were able to attain wisdom through the Buddha\u2019s teachings and free themselves from suffering.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Buddha\u2019s time, severe discrimination based on race, gender, and class was common. But the Buddha said no one can be defined as either noble or lowly by birth.
A high social class does not make one noble, and a low social class does not make one lowly. Also, being a man does not make one noble, and being a woman does not make one lowly. He made a declaration of human rights that everyone in this world is equal.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/mXj7EuaGN3c\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Greetings to the members of IBC and fellow Buddhists around the world.
Today is the Buddha\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also the day he attained enlightenment, as well as the day he passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been 2566 years since his passing, which means he was born 2646 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Buddha came to this world, he lit up the world for many people who were wandering in darkness. And so many people who were suffering mired in ignorance were able to attain wisdom through the Buddha\u2019s teachings and free themselves from suffering.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Buddha\u2019s time, severe discrimination based on race, gender, and class was common. But the Buddha said no one can be defined as either noble or lowly by birth.
A high social class does not make one noble, and a low social class does not make one lowly. Also, being a man does not make one noble, and being a woman does not make one lowly. He made a declaration of human rights that everyone in this world is equal.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha also proclaimed that there is no such a thing as \u201cfate.\u201d He said that the reason we suffer is not due to our past life, god\u2019s will, or the time we were born. Our lives are not predestined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that our suffering is simply the consequence of our ignorance. So, if we free ourselves from ignorance and attain enlightenment, anyone can live a free and happy life just like the Buddha.

Many people who were suffering during his time practiced according to the teachings of the Buddha and reached nirvana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddha presented us with five precious values.
First, respect all living beings. In other words, we should not intentionally hit or kill any living beings. He was against any form of violence. He proposed a peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, refrain from taking what is not given. People need daily necessities including food, clothes, and shelter, and we should refrain from taking or stealing such necessities. Not only that, we should provide necessities to those in need. The Buddha already presented the idea of humanitarian aid during his time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, refrain from sexual misconduct.
Apart from beating or stealing, something that makes others suffer is sexual misconduct. No matter how much you love someone, you should not distress others by making unwelcome sexual advances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, refrain from wrong speech.
We can hurt others not just by our action but also by our words.
It is not right to harm or distress others with words. So, the Buddha banned lying, insulting, and cursing.            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, the Buddha banned the culture of seeking pleasure and enjoying luxury. He said that it is foolish to become drunk or get high on drugs and distress others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These values presented by the Buddha, which were important during his time, are still valuable today. If humanity only adhered to these values, the world would be more peaceful and the people would be happier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the Buddha\u2019s birthday, all of us Buddhists should keep these teachings in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the members of IBC and all the Buddhists around the world, I wish you happy Buddha\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I pray that the Buddha\u2019s teachings  reach not only Buddhists but all living beings so that they can enjoy peace and comfort in their lives. 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those at IBC who have organized this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/p>\n","post_title":"Meaning of the Buddha’s Coming to This World: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Sends the Message to IBC (May 08, 2022)","post_excerpt":"Celebrating Buddha\u2019s birthday","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220508","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12708","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12696,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-31 21:54:18","post_date_gmt":"2022-06-01 02:54:18","post_content":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to visit INEB website<\/a> for more information.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"The 20th Biennial INEB Conference in South Korea","post_excerpt":"Jungto Society, founded by the Korean Zen master and social activist Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of compassion.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-20th-biennial-ineb-conference-in-south-korea","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-07 02:11:36","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-07 07:11:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12696","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12503,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-05-28 18:37:46","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-28 23:37:46","post_content":"\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Seon (Zen) master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8),* has continued its practice of sharing the fruits of Buddhist compassion in May. To mark the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on 8 May this year in Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and team of Jungto volunteers delivered fresh produce to support vulnerable communities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the Buddha\u2019s birthday, I hope we can help those in need,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim announced to Jungto Society volunteers at the Jungto retreat center in the village of Dubuk, near the southern city and former ancient capital of Gyeongju. \u201cSo today we will provide offerings of watermelons, tomatoes, and melons, which have been donated by our Dharma teacher HyangJon, as well as the rice we have farmed here in Dubuk. I would like to support Aegwangwon, a facility for the mentally disabled, a nursing home for the elderly, and also support the elderly living in the village around the training center through the Senior Citizens Center. Yesterday, we also made a donation to the local temple here in Gyeongju.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Traditional temple breakfast offering<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community and humanitarian organization that aspires to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle that is less centered on consumption than mainstream society. Jungto Society seeks to address the problems and crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements. Jungto Society connects communities of practitioners across South Korea and the world, each offering online Dharma instruction and other Dharma-based programs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Jungto truck is loaded with produce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following a formal Korean temple breakfast at Dubuk, the volunteers quickly loaded a truck with the rice, watermelon, tomatoes, and melons to be donated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first stop for the Jungto team was Aegwangwon, a residential center for mentally handicapped people on Geoje Island, near the southern city of Busan. Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder and director Kim Im-soon came out to greet Ven. Pomnyun Sunim as he arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe day after tomorrow is the Buddha\u2019s birthday, so I\u2019ve brought rice and fruits for the residents,\u201d  Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said. \u201cWe have brought 10 bags of rice, 20 watermelons, 20 boxes of tomatoes, and 10 boxes of melons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally founded as a refuge for orphaned babies during the Korean War, Aegwangwon is now a home for the differently abled. Although the center is run by a Christian organization, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has maintained a working relationship with the center since 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After greetings were exchanged, the team quickly set about unloading the produce from the truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Aegwangwon\u2019s 98-year-old founder, Kim Im-soon, greets Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Unloading donations for Aegwangwon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next stop on the itinerary was Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. The Buddhist nun who runs the kindergarten had recently contacted Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to say that she would like to offer a donation after being deeply impressed by Sunim\u2019s online Dharma talks. The Jungto team took the opportunity to pay a visit while driving to the city of Busan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am farming these days. So I\u2019ve brought some of our farmed rice to share with you. I\u2019ve also brought some fruit to serve on Buddha\u2019s birthday,\u201d Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the well-wishers at the kindergarten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Arriving at Cham Jo Eun Kindergarten in Jinhae. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sharing greetings and good wishes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was only time to stop briefly before continuing onward to the next destination\u2014a short visit to Jungsaeng-sa, the temple in Busan that is home to Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s own teacher. The great monk was returning to the temple just as the Jungto team arrived, in time to greet and share a moment with his lifelong student before duty called the team onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim shares precious moments with his teacher, Ven. Master Bulshim Domoon Sunim,
at Jungsaeng-sa in Busan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An enthusiastic welcome at Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in Ulsan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final consignment of fresh produce was delivered to Jajae Palliative Care Hospital in the city of Ulsan, run by Buddhist nuns. The director, Ven. Neunghaeng and her colleagues, ran out to offer an enthusiastic greeting for Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Although they had hoped for time to talk more deeply with the monk, the afternoon was drawing to an end and Ven. Pomnyun Sunim was due back in Dubuk, where he was scheduled to give his weekly online Dharma teaching.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Shares the Fruits of Compassion to Mark the Birth of the Buddha","post_excerpt":"May 6, 2022: Planting seedlings, delivering rice and fruit, Friday Q&A session","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"pomnyun_220506","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12503","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12552,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-17 08:05:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-17 13:05:00","post_content":"\n

A peaceful world.
It is not necessary to give up our selfishness to make the world peaceful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is selfish. As I am selfish, other people can also be selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we all understand that truth peace can blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"A Peaceful World","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"a-peaceful-world","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:08:52","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:08:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12552","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12548,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-10 07:59:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-10 12:59:00","post_content":"\n

True parents are the ones who raise a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not necessarily the ones who gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The true parents are...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-true-parents-are","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-24 20:05:16","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-25 01:05:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12548","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12465,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-05-03 13:57:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-03 18:57:00","post_content":"\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People meet and break up.
Breaking up may not be your choice, but
when you meet someone new,
you will live apart.
Breaking up gives you a chance to meet someone new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking up is painful.
That\u2019s because
you believe you cannot live
without the other person, but that isn\u2019t because of breakup itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spring comes, new leaves sprout.
When autumn comes, the leaves fall off.
That's what life is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know that
you may feel a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"When spring comes...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"when-spring-comes","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 14:01:03","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 19:01:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12465","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12390,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2022-04-29 00:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-29 05:01:04","post_content":"\n

Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives. As the old Korean proverb says: \u201cA life in a heap of dung is still better than no life at all.\u201d This implies that we are emotionally attached to life, despite the suffering we experience for various reasons.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tell themselves that they only want to live until their children are married, until they have grandchildren, or just until the grandchildren go to college. Better yet, they say they want to live just long enough to see their grandchildren get married, all in an attempt to postpone the separation from their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, when we see people close to us die, we can\u2019t help but confront the futility of life and the fear of death. There was a person who witnessed a family member, emaciated after years of illness, failing to swallow even a drop of water. The person wondered: \u201cDoes the spirit vanish when the body dies? If everything vanishes into nothingness, what is the point of holding onto life so dearly?\u201d The gradual loss of weight when someone is at the very end of their life is a natural process, and it is not a bad thing. Like an oil lamp that quietly fades away, consuming every bit of your own energy as you pass away could be considered a good death. Additionally, if you can remain lucid until your last breath, that would be even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

In the Heart Sutra<\/em>, there is the phrase: \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear.\u201d This does not mean that things continue to exist for eternity without changing. Rather it means that although we believe there are life and death, in truth, life and death are not two separate entities. When we go to the beach, we can see waves. The waves are formed and then they break once they reach the shore, and this process is repeated continuously. However, if you take a step back and view the sea as a whole, you will realize that it\u2019s not that the waves are formed and then vanish, but rather the sea is just being turbulent. When you view life the way you view the sea as a whole, you will see that there is no life and death. When you observe individual waves, each wave is formed and then is broken just as life seems to appear and disappear on the surface. However, this is not the actuality; it is simply a matter of our perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say a four-year-old boy fills a bowl with ice cubes and then goes outside to play. When he returns a couple of hours later, he will see the bowl filled with water instead of ice. What do you think the boy would say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, the ice cubes are gone, and there is water in the bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the mother, knowing what has happened, is able to explain to the boy that the ice has simply melted and turned into water. The ice cubes did not disappear into thin air, nor  did the water suddenly appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are like this child. We perceive the world from the perspective of what we can see in front of us. We are happy when we see things appear and we despair when we see things disappear. However, when you are able to perceive the big picture, you will realize that things simply change. This is what the phrase \u201cdoes neither appear nor disappear\u201d means. In other words, things do not appear or disappear from this world; rather things only change their form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decomposition of a dead body and the daily regeneration of cells in a living body can be regarded as the same in that they are both expressions of change. In the same vein, the regeneration of cells in our bodies can be compared to the replacement of old pine needles by new ones, which makes evergreen trees appear green all the time. Also, the rapid process of decomposition of a dead body is analogous to the decay of fallen leaves, which makes trees look dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that change is the only constant phenomenon in this world, we believe that something is alive when we can see it and that something is dead when we can no longer see it. Furthermore, when something appears in front of our eyes, we think it is born. Thoughts also suddenly enter into our heads and just as suddenly they disappear. Even if we promise, \u201cI will love you until death do us part,\u201d love will diminish over time. Believing that love will last forever or hope that it won\u2019t change is wishful thinking. Suffering is caused by your desire for things to stay the same, not by the change of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you fully accept that everything in this world changes, you will not feel so tormented when you see things change. Like the appearance and disappearance of waves, everything that comes into existence must come to an end. Once you fully grasp this truth, you won\u2019t have fears or regrets. However, since you only perceive fragments of the big picture, you miss the things that you believe are gone and are afraid that things will disappear. After you realize that aging and death are simple changes, you will no longer be afraid.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life and Death Are Nothing More than a Change in Form","post_excerpt":"Embedded in the desire for longevity is the yearning to not part with the people in our lives.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-and-death-are-nothing-more-than-a-change-in-form","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-02 20:40:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-03 01:40:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12390","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12461,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-26 13:52:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-26 18:52:00","post_content":"\n

A couple's fight begins over a trivial matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like little kids, two grown-ups fight like they have the power to fix each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can change another person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we fix other people when we can barely change ourselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way for a couple to live together happily is no mystery: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice is better than blame, and understanding is better than advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really needs to be fixed is our desire to fix other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Fix Your desire to Fix Others","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"fix-your-desire-to-fix-others","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:56:38","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:56:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12461","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12457,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-19 13:48:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-19 18:48:00","post_content":"\n

If you hold back your emotions, you'll be stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you'll regret it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suppressing your feelings brings suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you release your emotions, you may feel good for a moment, but then you'll have to face the consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the middle way is neither holding back nor releasing your emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice is about noticing so you are not dragged down by your habitual reaction to what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"The Middle Way","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-middle-way","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:52:21","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:52:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12457","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":12453,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2022-04-12 13:37:00","post_date_gmt":"2022-04-12 18:37:00","post_content":"\n

You cannot change someone else's habits when you are unable to change your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you become frustrated with someone, remind yourself that you have become caught up in your own thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are frustrated because you keep insisting on having your own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you repeat this reminder to yourself, you'll be frustrated less often and become more calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"What you cannot change...","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"what-you-cannot-change","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-10 13:40:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-10 18:40:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=12453","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":21},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_37"};

Pomnyun