Sunday Photo; Optical Delusion

A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few [...]

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Learning to hear the voice of our true nature

I recently posed a question to Chong Go Sunim about how our foundation guides us.  His answer is insightful and I’d like to share it. (The Korean word Juingong (主人空)means that which is really doing things, and which has no fixed shape or form. It can also be read as true nature or Buddha-nature.) Question: How [...]

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practitioners’ questions

At the last meeting of the Bangkok Seon Club I met two wonderful Thai women, friends and long-time Dharma sisters, with a real interest in the teachings of Seon Master Daehaeng Sunim and in Seon spiritual practice. Being new to Hanmaum, although of course far from new to Buddhism, they asked a lot of really [...]

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Sunday Photo; Latticed temple doors

One of the simple pleasures of visiting temples is admiring the latticework of the doors and windows. I’m always in awe of the detail that goes into every inch of the halls and shrines, and especially in these skillful carvings

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good and evil

Not to do evil, to cultivate the good, and to purify the mind. This is the teaching of all the Buddhas.  - The Buddha, The Dhammapada, verse 183 You who desire true life and wish to walk on God’s path: Depart from evil; do good; seek peace with all your soul.  - Psalm 34, adapted by [...]

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Sunday Photo; temple tiles at Beomeosa

I’ll let this one speak for itself…

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the Ven. Ya-un: Cautions about criticizing others

I’ve learned the hard way just how corrosive criticizing and complaining about others can be. I’m sure there are things that are more damaging to us spiritually, but criticizing and analyzing other’s faults has to be near the top of the list. No matter whether you hear good things or bad things, do not let yourself [...]

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reminders

Yesterday, at the Bangkok Seonwon, in a truly beautiful and deeply meaningful ceremony, everyone renewed their five lay Buddhist precept vows.  Half a dozen people also took them for the first time, and so gained a new Buddhist name reflecting their new paths and aspirations. The proceedings were led by Haewon Sunim, who had especially and kindly [...]

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Sunday Photo; Buddhas in the snow

At Saturday Sangha yesterday, we discussed the beginning of chapter seven, in No River to Cross. It’s a part that really stood out the first time I read the book, and continues to drift a considerable distance above my understanding. One term that really jumped out at me was, “manifesting nondually”. It reminded me of [...]

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The Venerable Ya-un: Don’t forget about freeing yourself from desires

This is the eighth of Ya-un’s admonitions: Don’t lounge about in the realms of desire. It’s also a caution for monastics to remember why they originally became a monk or nun, and to not end up living like an ordinary lay person. The person who renounces the desires of their heart is called a practitioner. Not longing [...]

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