Diary of a Korean Zen Monk – first time in English!

Just published in Korea by the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders, this book is an authentic diary of a serious Korean Seon (Zen) monk written during a three-month winter retreat in the 1970s. It is a first-person account of what actually happens during an intensive meditation retreat in a traditional monastery with all its austerity, beauty, humor and humanity. There is nothing else like this in English. Readers are transported into the world of Korean Zen practice in a mountain monastery within minutes. Handy end notes explain the specialized terminology of Korean Buddhist life for the uninitiated. The volume is tastefully punctuated with sensitive watercolor illustrations as seen on the cover above. Jiheo, the monk who kept the diary, was not a famous master but a dedicated spiritual seeker. His present whereabouts are unknown. The original Korean has been translated into English by Jong Kweon Yi and Rev. Dr. Frank Tedesco of the True Dharma International Buddhist Mission. Only a small number of copies of the Diary of a Korean Zen Monk (ISBN: 978-89-7479-588-7) has been printed. To obtain one for yourself or local library, contact dharmaboom@gmail.com.

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Meditation – Benefit By It

There is no doubt we live in a stressful society. We are always running here and there, worrying about this, and worrying about that. Even in our time off, we fill it up with things to do. Run here, run there, and even vacations are exhausting. We just don’t know how to really just sit and do nothing. Sadly, we don’t even know how to just rest. Our minds and bodies need rest and we need to make time for this necessary healing to avoid emotional problems and physical illness. Those who have mastered meditation reap the benefits of this healing practice. By resting the mind, one is more in control of it, and not likely to dwell on disturbing things in our life that may or may not be actually something to concern ourselves with. Totally calming and relaxing the body is restorative. The fact one is bringing both mind and body together means one is coming to their true home. The safe place of refuge which is our birthright that we need to be taught to connect with even though it has been there all the time. We are the owners of our minds and bodies yet we let them control us. Minds race from one negative thing to another, jumping around like hyperactive monkeys. Our body reacts by raising blood pressure, we can’t concentrate, focus, and we get anxious and touchy. Meditation is a practice that gives us control over the mind.

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A Christian Hindu

He wears that long, white/cream, translucent silk garment that many know as a dhoti. He walks barefoot and visits any temple he can find. Sometimes, in traditional temples, they stop him with a stern, “this is a Hindu temple – for Hindus only” because his skin is white, with a ruddishness that waxes and wanes like the moon. He fobs them off with a “I am a Hindu” in chaste Tamil. They (the so-called sentinels) don’t know what to say and let him pass. Inside, he clasps his hands, bows, prays and does what every devout Hindu does.

He looks like a ‘foreigner’. He is, in the conventional sense. But, isn’t everyone? I don’t know of a single human being who was borne by mother earth. All were borne by mother human females. Everyone or at least everyone’s ancestors, at some point of time, were ‘foreigners’ somewhere. So, that’s no big deal!

Sing For Tibet

In 1911, a revolution overtook China. The movement went across the country. By the next year, they had moved into neighbouring countries, such as Tibet. By 1913, Tibet had sent the Chinese back to their own country and His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama returned to Lhasa. For the next 30 years, Tibet enjoyed freedom.

But since China entered Tibet in 1949, the situation got worse. The Tibetan people became oppressed by the invading Chinese. Residents have been fleeing into neighboring India for over 50 years now, claiming repressive policies and severe human rights abuses. The total number of refugees has now topped 80,000.

Around 1983, China targeted Tibet for mass immigration offering Han Chinese extra money if they were willing to emigrate. In 1984 more than 100,000 Han Chinese took advantage of the incentives. But no money was given to Tibetans, so they were more interested in following the Dalai Lama to India, even if making the trip was dangerous to them. Mountaineers would report finding bodies of unprepared Tibetan refugees, frozen to death while trying to escape the Chinese.

Buddhism and Network Marketing – The Second Jewel, ‘Dharma’

The Dharma is very important because although we take refuge in the Buddha, he does not have the power to save us from samsara by pulling us up with his own hands. If this were possible he would have done it and samsara would have been emptied a long time ago. We have to walk the path ourselves and achieving the ultimate liberation is completely down to us.

Similar is the case with network marketing. While the systems and companies are set up to ensure success, few people succeed because it calls for taking personal responsibility for your business. You don’t ‘join’ network marketing… you ‘own’ a networking business. And then you ‘teach’ others the process to ‘own’ theirs.