Sunday Photo; steps to an old, neglected Darma Hall
Seen and Unseen Connected as One
Here’s a nice Dharma talk by Seon Master Daehaeng.
Everything, throughout the entire universe and Dharma realm
is connected with each other,
and connected to everything in our lives.
Although unseen,
this connection is like a great net of the Dharma,
a thread that connects everything,,
and a path on which there is no coming or going.
Even this realm of ours is connected, in every way,
to all upper and lower realms.
Our world faces so many difficulties.
Like sailors,
we have to be prepared to deal with whatever kinds of waves arise.
Yet if we can’t take care of what’s right in front of our eyes,
how will we be able to overcome the larger, underlying aspects?
Our bodies and material things have no power to truly resolve
these kinds of problems.
o
Should even the energy that fills the air around us be depleted,
more would flow in from outside the Earth.
It’s not for lack of energy that our planet suffers,
but because people don’t recognize the energy that’s already present,
and so are unable to use it.
To use this energy,
people who understand about our fundamental mind
have to all become one mind.
If we can do this, the whole will respond to the thoughts we raise.
We have to become one mind, we have to become a great pillar.
o
As I’ve always said, this isn’t about finding something,
somewhere else.
It’s about what we’ve always had,
it’s about our foundation.
We, the owners of the Earth, have to firmly rely upon our root.
Start with brightening your own light, and others will become brighter,
eventually filling the world with light.
How could the world become brighter if the people remain in darkness?
o
You have to bring together both the visible and the unseen-realms
and function using both.
This is the practice of finding your root,
while becoming one with everything that arises in the world.
It’s my sincerest hope that all of you will become fellow practitioners,
diligently practicing, becoming brothers and sisters through our one mind,
and help people throughout the world find their way.
-Daehaeng Kun Sunim
(Lotus photo is by Joseph.)
Sunday Photo; Jebiwon
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 things that come out of our bodies, words can be some of the most troubling!)
On their website (http://krnvc.org/eng/index.aspx), nonviolent communication is described as, “a way of relating to ourselves and others, moment to moment, free of past reactions.”
A big part of NVC is actually learning to listen, to understand the other’s needs as much as learning to express your own.
For more information on the group, here is a link: What We Do
And if you’d like to visit: Direction
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, Il-ryong (One Dragon), invited me in for some locally made green tea. I thought I would sit and have a nice talk with him, while he poured us tea but instead he pointed over to his tea sets and basket of tea, and said, “I have to go pray now, help yourself.”
I was a bit surprised, but took him up on his offer, anyway. Even more surprised was the older gentleman who came along a few minutes later to find the bald-headed foreigner sitting in the temple making green tea. He asked if I were a monk and was really puzzled when I said no, and that the monk was in the back shrine doing ye-bul (ceremony). He let me pour him one cup of tea, but quickly got up and left after. I wondered if he thought I’d invited myself in and didn’t want to be there if the monk came back.
I sat facing the open door, and enjoyed every sip until the leaves were finally exhausted, while gazing out at this view. I often think about making the eight hour trip back there just so I can enjoy it once again, but I know that moment will probably not be found again.
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 on my face!
(from Monty Python’s The Life of Brian):
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 crowed, signaling the dawn, before these two were finished, and they still lay in place.
I’m interested in how the form of the Buddhas were decided by the shape of the rock, not necessarily by the artist. The rock already had the Buddhas within, it just took some chiseling away to reveal them!
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 a result, the entire base is being emptied and demolished. So last night, which was also Buddha’s Birthday, we had a concluding ceremony and Dharma talk. It was really a celebration of a place where people have been able meet and grow for the last 23 years. (Here are some pictures before the ceremony; I got distracted and forgot to ask someone to take pictures of the event itself. Sigh. 😉 You can see some photos of last year’s celebrations here, as well as a larger Korean Army Dharma hall.)
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 the world where one could see so many different types of Buddhism and Buddhist organizations. In fact, I have too many photos, and not enough time, so I’ll have to divide this post into two parts. (You can see larger images of most photos by clicking on the image.)
For a great collection of night-time photos of Jogye Temple check out Robert’s photo blog. In the next post I’ll cover the different Buddhist countries involved and some of the activities and NGOs.
- Incense being sold by Korea’s premier incense company, Neung In. They also provided the raw ingredients and showed people how to make their own incense.
Sunday Photo; lantern canopy at Jogye Temple
Wake Up and Laugh! 