Sunday Photo; Jebiwon

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Nonviolent Communication group, in Seoul

I just thought I’d share this with those of you in the Seoul area, there is a Nonviolent Communication (NVC) practice group in Seoul. A friend of mine has been involved with the group for a few years and what she’s told me of her learning has been very inspirational. (Especially considering that of all the [...]

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Sunday Photo; Jiri Mountain

To hike Jirisan, I’ve been told, takes a full three days, so the one time I went hiking in the mountain, I only went a short way up, to Buril waterfall, and camped out nearby, then made my way back down the next morning. Just before the waterfall is a small hermitage, where the monk, [...]

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Looking on the bright side

One of the things I’ve learned from my teacher is importance of interpreting things positively. (Basically, the thoughts we give rise to lead directly to our future.) So I found myself laughing as I woke up this morning, with this song playing over and over in my head. Even now this video puts a smile [...]

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Sunday Photo; Buddhas at Unju Temple

Since the South-West corner of the Korean peninsula has fewer and smaller mountains then the East side, a team of heavenly masons came down one night to carve one thousand Buddhas and one thousand stupas. These Buddhas and stupas would balance out the peninsula and save it from capsizing into the sea. However, the rooster [...]

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Last view of a Korean army Dharma hall

Most large Korean army bases also have Dharma halls. This may strike some as strange, but Korea has the draft, and just about every man, regardless of religious faith, ends up in the military. One of the Dharma halls I look after is on a base that’s relocating as part of a consolidation project. As [...]

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Buddha’s Birthday: Streetfair in Seoul

The Buddha’s Birthday is almost upon us, (tomorrow in fact) which means that yesterday was the street fair in front of Jogye Temple in Seoul. For an entire block, the road was filled with activities and booths set up by Buddhist organizations and NGO’s from around the world. I can’t imagine any other place in [...]

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Sunday Photo; lantern canopy at Jogye Temple

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Buddha’s Birthday in Korea, a preview

The Buddha’s birthday celebrations won’t begin until this Saturday, but on Sunday we(Hanmaum Seon Center) had a preview of the activities our center’s groups are planning.  There’s nothing else for it, but to say they were incredible! The planning and effort they’ve put into the designs and rehearsals really show up.  The Lantern Parade will begin at [...]

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Advice from Me to Myself – Patrul Rinpoche

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know I like texts that encourage us to practice.  Over several months I posted a translation of the Ven. Ya-un’s Admonitions to Myself.  Not too long ago, I came across a link on Reddit to a text by Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887) that has a lot of [...]

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