 BulkwangMedia article on 04/26/24 YongHua Sunim, who is leading the US WeiYang Lineage, is staying in Korea to meet Korean Buddhists. I met the Sunim at Jeweled Conch Seon Center near Sunae Train Station in Bundang. Upon entering the temple, which is located in a commercial building, I felt that it must be quite difficult for the Sunims to reside there. YongHua Sunim, originally from Vietnam, was once a prominent executive of a large corporation in the US but renounced worldly life after meeting Great Master Hsuan Hua. He practiced Chan (Seon) to the extent of saying, "My first love is Chan," but he also teaches Pure Land Buddhism. The practice of Chan and the Buddha’s Name Recitation Method taught by his teacher, Great Master Hsuan Hua, has become well-known in Korea as well. The words of YongHua Sunim are straightforward. There's no beating around the bush, and he emphasizes efficiency. Whether it's Buddha’s name recitation or Chan cultivation, he stresses the need to solve everyday problems. Is it a matter of cause and condition starting as a businessman and now being a cultivator, or is it an expression of American pragmatism? This question was the central theme of the interview. Rebirth to Ultimate Bliss Pure Land Q: You said, "If one sincerely recites Buddha’s name, he or she can be reborn in the Pure Land." Is that really true? A: It is not only the words of my teacher but also the teachings of Yongming Yanshou, a Chinese Chan master. He started with Chan and attained enlightenment but also taught Pure Land. In China, he was also called the transformation body of Amitabha Buddha. He said, "Anyone who recites Buddha's Name will be reborn in the Pure Land." I believe in these words because they are the teachings of many patriarchs. If you practice Buddha’s name recitation, you can definitely be reborn in the Pure Land. This doesn't mean it will happen in this life, but it is certain for the future. Q: Are you sure about that? A: I believe so. Q: Fear of death sometimes becomes a reason for believing in religion. It is said that at the moment of death, Amitabha Buddha comes to welcome us. Aren't we afraid when facing death? A: Rebirth in the Pure Land is not a simple matter. You need to meet qualifications. If you experience the Buddha Recitation Samadhi, Amitabha Buddha will come to welcome you at the moment of death. That's the door to enter the Pure Land. If you don't attain the Buddha Recitation Samadhi, it's difficult to be reborn in the next life. But didn't Amitabha Buddha make a vow saying, "I will definitely receive those who recite my name into the Pure Land and help them attain the Buddhahood in the future? " Even for those who haven't attained the Buddha Recitation Samadhi, because they "recited Buddha’s name", they can obtain rebirth in the future life. In fact, there are not many people who can talk about what happens after death. One of them is my teacher. Q: What does it mean to attain samadhi? A: Samadhi is an essential element in Buddhist practice and serves as an important measure of disciples' levels of achievement. While the power of wisdom is significant, the power of samadhi is immense as well. Samadhi refers to a state of concentration. When one enters into the state of samadhi, they are less disturbed by external hindrances. Various external factors, such as sounds, smells, and others, do not interfere. Among the disciples of Great Master Hsuan Hua, there was a mathematician who had reached a high level of samadhi. He wrote a paper solving mathematical problems. After the completion, he realized that 17 hours had passed without feeling hunger or thirst. When practicing Chan meditation, one sits quietly. It is a practice to enter a state of samadhi without movement. Additionally, there's moving samadhi in everyday life. Samadhi is achievable in daily life and is very important. Faith, Benefits, and Blessings Q: Cultivation may lead to growth in faith, but there are also doubts and anguish like, “Is this path right?” You emphasize faith in a Good Knowing Advisor, but did doubts arise? A: Doubting about something is a healthy and natural phenomenon. I also had doubts when I met my teacher. However, just as belief isn't someone else's, doubts aren't someone else's either. The first important thing is, “How trustworthy is this person and his story?” You need to know who is teaching you. The second is whether “the teaching resonates with me.” You must agree with it. Lastly, there must be a “response.” Some of my teacher's teachings I couldn't understand. My teacher said to me, "Don't justify yourself." Let's say your closest friend misunderstood you. At that moment, the teacher said, "Don't justify yourself." I couldn't understand it for over ten years, but then finally, a “response” came. “Response” means there's definitely something beneficial when you implement the teachings. That's the teaching of wisdom. While others may speak highly of teaching, and it may seem right logically, what's important is whether it works for me. This is the tradition of Chinese Buddhism. If you want to learn Pure Land and Chan, you must first find a Good Knowing Advisor. To make Buddhism strong, you need responses and such traditions. Q: You also discuss the benefits of cultivation. There's the great benefit of enlightenment, but you also mention worldly benefits like health and blessings, as well as practical benefits. A: Initially, I avoided explaining such benefits. Chan cultivation is noble, and we shouldn't approach it from a business perspective, right? I talked about it continuously for 18 years without a break. But as time passed, the stories repeated, and my disciples got bored. (Laughs) It might seem like I'm talking about worldly benefits, but in reality, it's about listening to people's problems and finding solutions. Some people come because they're depressed, some because of health issues. They bring everyday problems. It's about asking, 'What can Chan cultivation do for me?' Chan solves their problems. Chan can be very practical even in everyday issues, enabling a better life. We talk about Chan's principles and profound teachings, but if there is no benefit to solving ordinary people's everyday problems, how many people will take an interest in Chan? Short Stories A significant amount of time passed with serious discussions, so we tried some lighter stories. YongHua Sunim’s Wei Yang Lineage holds unique cultivation programs like Fo Qi and Chan Qi. The basis of these programs is sitting in a full lotus, which is required for beginners. Q: Is there anyone who doesn’t come to the temple because he or she finds the full lotus position difficult? A: There are many. Too many. (Laughs) Emphasizing the full lotus has its reasons. It's because its efficacy is clear, and it can lead to high levels and quick training. Initially, due to the small size of the temple, it was to select those who could keep up with the training. But now that our scale is increasing, we can't just stick to the full lotus. You're welcome even if you can't do the full lotus. (Laughs) Q: You clearly mention the topic of Mahayana Buddhism. However, nowadays the term “Hinayana” isn't used much, but you clearly make distinction between Mahayana and Hinayana. A: Since there aren't many people, using such terms is still okay. It might be a concern when I become more famous and have more disciples, but for now, it's okay. (Laughs) I'm just talking about what I know. I'm just talking about what I believe in. If I'm afraid of (others' perspectives), then it's not Buddhism. I believe in the teachings of Mahayana and speak accordingly. If I become afraid of speaking, then I'm just trying to please others and gain their support, right? If you want to become famous, that's not cultivation. You should be able to speak about what you believe in. I don't beat around the bush with slightly uncomfortable questions. The format is gentle, but the content is straightforward. Impressions of Korean Buddhism Q: You've been to Korea several times. What are your impressions? A: I've been to Korea a few times. When I first came five years ago, to be honest, I didn't have much of an impression. I felt like I was on vacation. But it was fun. The second time someone asked me to open a temple. "It's very easy, no problem at all. I'll send one disciple," I said. That's how Venerable Xian An came. And I had the opportunity to teach here. After visiting several times, I got a good impression. Korean Buddhism is strong and stable. Although China may not admit it, I've learned that Korean Buddhism is one of the important pillars of Asian Buddhism. I've also met eminent monks. I've seen the tradition of passing on from teacher to disciple. But what I see outside of the traditional structure is more important. Korean Buddhist disciples are talented. With so many talents, why teach only one or two people? Korean Buddhist disciples cultivate with us and reach very high levels. They are truly talented Q: There are many young people at Jewel Conch Seon Center. A: Religion, in general, isn't attracting young people. Korean Buddhism also seems to be getting older. Korean Buddhism is very strong, but it needs change. Young people find it difficult to contribute to the temple because they have nothing. So, they can easily be excluded. But it doesn't matter because we were always poor. (Laughs) Not only young people come here but also many Catholics. I think we can help Korean Buddhism in this regard. A few days after the interview, the Sunim returned to the United States.
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 I was born with a congenital hip dislocation on my left side, so when I started to sit, it was challenging for me to do even half lotus. My Chan teacher, Venerable XX, was very careful to not push me too hard. All she asked was that I sit a little bit longer every day.
And so, that’s what I did. Starting with half lotus, I worked to distract myself so as not to unbuckle. Watching YouTube, listening to music, talking to friends … you name it, I tried it. And ever so slowly I was able to push my half lotus from ten minutes to almost an hour, just by adding a half to full minute every day. I started to sit because I have a very stressful job in a hospital. Since Covid, the stress only got worse. I tried guided meditation but stopped making progress in a very short time. After a trusted friend told me about Chan, I decided to give it a try. The pain was unexpected. But if I was to really get anything from it, I was going to have to give it my all. Initially, I couldn’t understand Master’s talks. Yes, he was funny, but I truly had no idea what he was talking about. I knew nothing about Buddhism prior to this. Then one day, struggling with pain, nothing that had helped before was working. Desperate, I found a video of Master and suddenly, I got it! I understood every word he said. “Enduring the pain builds blessings,” he said. “To make progress, you must not quit!” And just like that, by not quitting, I made progress. I was able to sit in full lotus after just a couple of months. After practicing Chan Buddhism for one and a half years, my new record is four hours! Does it still hurt? Oh, yes. It hurts like hell. Yet I was able to experience extreme blissfulness after the extreme pain. When I felt I was at my breaking point, unable to continue, BOOM!, the pendulum swung the opposite direction. Plus my energy/ focus/ emotions/ recovery time are the best they’ve ever been in my whole, entire life. But don’t take my word for it, try it! Check it out. Walk the walk and you will receive your unique Chan “gift.” -F.L. “I was planning a trip to California, to visit friends, but also with a mission to visit a Buddhist temple. I sent a message out within my heart and mind asking for help to find a true temple, one with a real Shifu to teach and guide me. I did a search in a Yelp App. The first one listed was Lu Mountain Temple. I felt a deep connection to the name, so I thought to myself, “Okay, let’s go there.” When I went, I told one of the Venerables about finding them on Yelp. She told me that it was fate that brought me there as they don’t advertise on Yelp.
While there, I relayed a story about an experience I had at a friend’s banquet. It was a big celebration with much feasting. My brother passed me a huge plate full of filet mignon. Up till then I’d always enjoyed eating meat. Suddenly I saw a face of a black cow crying and mooing at me. I froze. My heart ached and I felt a lump in my throat. My brother kept calling to me, as if from a distance. I snapped out of my vision and shook my head no, I don’t want it. Venerable told me it was the Compassion Mantra towards lower beings (animals and insects) revealing itself to me. I learned from one of the lay disciples at the temple that in order to be a Buddhist I need to seek refuge. I’d always thought I was a Buddhist. My parents and relatives were Buddhists, weren’t they? After all, we burnt incense to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas every 1st and 15th of the Lunar Calendar. We made ceremonial food offerings to the deities every Lunar Year; offerings of “dead money,” displays of fruits, even cooked meats! (Actually a Taoist belief, I later learned.) Lu Mountain Temple brought me to the Chan Teaching of sitting in lotus. As a child, I easily sat in lotus. It was easy and fun! When a Venerable asked a group of us beginners to sit in lotus, I was still able to. But it was definitely not as comfortable or easy as when I was a child. (Here’s a little secret. When I was little, I told my parents I wanted to be a monk and asked them to send me to the Shaolin Temple in China. I was broken-hearted when my dad told me no girls were allowed.) Venerable taught us to sit in the Chan way, to endure the pain, with a goal to reach an hour, one step at a time, adding five minutes each day. When I returned home to Chicago, I continued to sit in full lotus while reciting the mantras I’d learned. Initially, I was only able to cross my legs for 10-15 minutes before unbuckling. But with determination, I pushed further, to 30 minutes, 45 minutes, before achieving an hour. I bowed in repentance, sitting longer, increasing exponentially as time went by, while attending every Fo Qi and Chan Qi I could. The more afflicted I was, the more difficult the level of pain. My job is very stressful, with last-minute deadlines, constant interruptions. Daily, I deal with many types of personalities, people in trouble, people riding an emotional roller coaster of problems. My patience and afflictions are constantly being tested. In almost seven years as a Buddhist disciple practicing Chan I have noticed a huge difference in my life from before and now. Whenever I feel a cold coming on, all I have to do is sit in lotus. Minor colds are instantly dispelled when I focus on my Dan-Tian. Stronger viral flus take longer, up to three hours. The Omicron took even longer, but eventually I learned to repel even stronger strains of variants. Sitting continues to keep me safe and healthy through even the toughest of bugs threatening to invade me. Here are some other perks from practicing Chan Buddhism. - I am much better at letting things “go.” It gets easier and easier with time. - I feel calmer, a sense of contentment for no reason at all. - I’m able to function better, feel sharper, in even the most stressful situations. - I’ve developed more patience, which has always been my biggest obstacle to overcome. - I have learned, through my own experiences, how to sincerely ask the Buddhas for help when it is most needed. In closing, I can only wish for you the very same gifts bestowed upon me in my continuing studies. I hope you will take the opportunity to enter into a practice of your own. The benefits are without limit.”  “I would like to share a story, an experience I had relating to Wei Tou Bodhisattva.
One day, a long time ago, I was sitting on the floor reading, 42 Chapters Sutra, explained by Master YongHua. My back began to hurt so I laid down to rest on the floor for a few minutes. I opened the book to cover my eyes and after a few minutes, I dozed off. Then, I had a strange and terrible dream. I saw a man wearing an ancient style of clothing and holding a pestle in his hand. He was furious at me, and began to chase me. His scowl was stern, severe. Referring to the book being used to cover my eyes, he admonished me. “How dare you treat the Sutra like that?” Awakened by his terrible anger, I sat bolt upright. The book fell from my face, opening to an image of Wei Tou Bodhisattva. The image matched exactly as he had appeared to me in my dream. The face, the clothes he wore, the pestle, everything. I had no doubt then, or now, that I had been visited by Wei Tou. I vowed to never disrespect any sacred object again.” Shared by Kenix 수행자의일기: 이선미 Cultivator’s Diary: Seon-Mi Lee 11월30일달마톡을듣고 November 30, 2019. After listening to Master’s Dharma talk: 불칠수행마지막법문시간이었다. 불칠수행의경험담을나눠주세요.하시자여러사람이감사의인사를하고또수행의고통만을경험하신분도있기도하였다.그중한국에서오신불자님께서예전에영화선사께서3시간반내어주신숙제를해내셨고그다음단계는무엇을해야하는지 여쭙기위하여이번불칠에참석하였다고하셨다. 오! 3시간반. 나도열심히수행하여3시간반앉는것이익숙해지게되어영화선사를뵙고싶은서원이더확고해졌다. 나도언젠가미국행비행기를타고불자님처럼영화선사께다음단계수행을여쭈러가야겠다. It was the last Dharma talk of the FoQi Buddha’s name recitation retreat. When Master said, “Please share your FoQi experience,” many people shared their gratitude. Someone said that it was just a lot of suffering, but there was one Korean cultivator who said that she received homework from Master back in April to sit for 3 1/2 hours. She came to FoQi so she could ask about what is next. Wow, 3 1/2 hours. I also want to work hard and get used to sitting for 3 1/2 hours. My vow to meet Master after being able to sit for 3 1/2 hours comfortably has become firmer. One day I want to take an airplane and go to the USA to meet Master so that I can ask what I need to do next.  12월1일 December 1 결가부좌수행1시간57분Full lotus sitting: 1 hour and 57 minutes 호흡관1시간Breathing: 1 hour 능엄신주만트라30분Shurangama Mantra: 30 minutes 아미타불염불12분Amitabha’s name recitation: 12 minutes 능엄신주독송10분Shurangama Mantra: 10 minutes 오늘은 어제의 아쉬움을 만회하고자1시간50분 알람을 맞춰놓고 시작했다. (어제3시좀전에식사를마쳤는데 이후부터 꽁깍지차만 두 컵정도 마시고 오후불식을 해보았다.) 1시간25분 즘 넘어가며 다리부터 떨리기 시작했다. Today I wanted to do better than yesterday, so I set the alarm for 1 hour and 50 minutes. (Yesterday I finished my meal around 3:00 p.m. and drank two cups of tea only). My legs started to shake after 1 hour and 25 minutes. 어깨가뻐근해지며두손을모은손과어깨가흔들렀다.종을들고있으면무당이굿하는소리가나겠다싶을만큼제대로(?)흔들려조금무서웠다. My shoulders started to feel sore. I put my palms together, and my palms and shoulders started to shake a little. If I was holding the shaman’s bell, the bell would really shake and make sound. I felt a little scared. 현안스님이떨리면무서워하시말고떨리는대로두세요.선화상인께서우치(어리석음)가떨어져나가는거라말씀하시기도했어요.라해주신말을상기하며능엄신주만트라에집중했다.약5분간떨더니팔의떨림은저절로가라앉았고잠시후손과머리가한차례짧게흔들리더니가라앉았다. Venerable XianAn already told me that there’s no need to feel afraid and that I should let the shaking happen. Master HsuanHua said that shaking helps shake off the stupidity. While I reminded myself what Venerable XianAn told me, I continued to concentrate on the Shurangama Mantra recitation. After 5 minutes, the shaking of my arms calmed down. Not long after, my hands and head also calmed down. 시간이지날수록그동안괴로웠던오른쪽발과골반통은없으나왼쪽발이많이아팠다.어제부터불식을하며다짐했던것을상기하니좀더참을수가있었다.어릴때부터자주삐고많이걸으면으례히탈이나던왼발이라통증이시작될때올것이왔구나싶었다.통증은심했으나정신은점점맑아지는것같았고잡념도줄어들었다.오직발목통증만견디면더앉을수있을것같아계획한시간보다7분더하고마쳤다. As the time passed, the pain in the right foot and hip went down, but my left foot was hurting a lot. Because I had fasted since yesterday and resolved to sit longer, I was able to bear this pain longer. Since my left foot has had many problems since childhood, when the pain started there, it was expected. The pain was increasing, but my head was more and more clear and my excessive thoughts were reduced. I felt that I could sit longer if I could bear the left foot pain. I was able to push 7 minutes longer than my original plan. 오늘은부모님생각이많이났다.오직현실에서아등바등고생하시며성실히살아오신어머니아버지남은여생그성실과인내로스스로복짓는삶되도록열어주시기를수행하며빌었다.나무아미타불관세음보살() Today I thought of my parents. I prayed for them to be able to accrue more blessings for the rest of their lives because they have struggled to survive. Na Mo Amitabul Gwan Sae Um Bo Sal (This is Korean pronunciation of Na Mo Emitofou Guanyin Pu Sa)  |
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