Pomnyun

Venerable
Pomnyun
Religious life
ReligionBuddhism
Founder ofJungto Society
SchoolSeon
Korean name
Hangul
최석호
RRChoe Seokho
MRCh'oe Sŏkho
Dharma name
Hangul
법륜
Hanja
法輪
RRBeopryun
MRPŏmnyun
Websitepomnyun.com

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (Korean: 법륜스님, Hanja: 法輪; born 11 April 1953) is a Korean Seon master, author, and activist.[1][2] He is widely recognized in South Korea as the founder of the Jungto Society, a wise mentor, and one of the most respected Buddhist figures in recent history.[3][4] Internationally, he is known as a peace activist and one of the four patrons of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) alongside the Dalai Lama, Ven. Maha Somchai Kusalacitto, and Ven. Bhikshuni Chao Hwei.[5]

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s vision of engaged Buddhism is centered around Jungto Society, a community of practitioners he founded in 1988 to overcome what he saw as shortcomings in the existing Buddhist order in South Korea.[6] Since its inception, the volunteer-run community has founded four subsidiary NGOs – EcoBuddha for addressing environmental issues, Join Together Society for rendering aid in developing nations, the Peace Foundation for researching and promoting peace in the Korean peninsula, and Good Friends for protecting the rights of refugees in Asia – to reach their goal of creating Jungto, a land where individuals are happy, society is peaceful, and the environment is beautiful.[7] Venerable Pomnyun Sunim has received various awards and recognitions for his efforts in driving these projects. Notably, in 2002, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding "for his compassionate attention to the human cost of Korea's bitter division and his hopeful appeal for reconciliation."[8] And in 2020, he became the 37th recipient of the Niwano Peace Prize “in recognition of his extraordinary humanitarian work, environmental and social activism, and his inspiring effort to build relationships of trust and goodwill between those of different faiths and cultures as a central component of his work for peace.”[9]

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim slowly gained recognition in South Korea during the 2000s through his public Dharma Q&As (즉문즉설), in which audience members can ask Venerable Pomnyun Sunim about anything that troubles their mind, from personal issues to global conflicts and Buddhist practice. These sessions were hosted free of charge in different cities across the country, with their recordings uploaded and shared on YouTube. To date, he has hosted over 12,000 Dharma Q&As in South Korea and approximately 300 Q&As in other countries worldwide, including the 115 talks he gave during his global tour in 2014.[10] In 2012, after his appearance on the popular Korean TV show, Healing Camp, Aren’t You Happy, he became a nationally recognized and respected figure.

He wrote and published several best sellers in South Korea, including Words of Wisdom for Newlyweds, What Is Happiness?, Things Are Good as They Are Now, The Human Buddha, and Commentary on the Diamond Sutra. One of his bestsellers, titled “Happiness (Korean: 행복)” was released in the UK under the title “What is Happiness: A Monk’s Guide to a Happy Life” in March 2025, and is scheduled to be published in the U.S. in the near future.[11]

Early life and education

Venerable Pomnyun attended Gyeongju High School and was initially interested in becoming a scientist. However, while he was studying for his semester finals in the 10th grade, he had a chance encounter with the Buddhist monk, Venerable Domun, who later became his Buddhist teacher.[7] Venerable Domun was a disciple of Venerable Yongsung, who was one of the 33 leaders of the Korean independence movement in 1919, and Venerable Pomnyun also became heavily influenced by Venerable Yongsung's nationalistic views.[7] At the age of 16, Venerable Pomnyun took his vows as a Buddhist novice under Venerable Domun's tutelage.[12]

After finishing high school, he became involved in peasant movements and Buddhist educational programs during the dictatorship of President Park Chung Hee.[12] In 1979, he was once arrested and tortured on the suspicion that he was sending money to an activist group.[12] To, Venerable Pomnyun, the arrest and torture was an important awakening moment for him.[12]

In the past, I was a warrior for democracy, fighting for social justice. I hated dictators and in protesting against them, I was prepared to sacrifice myself for the realization of justice. I was frequently voicing complaints about other people, as my mind was always in darkness. When I truly awakened to the teachings of the Buddha and could see the world as it really is, however, I realized that it did not matter who was right and who was wrong because these were just different points-of-view. Dictators, military leaders, imperialists, exclusionary religious organizations, and groups pursuing their own selfish interests.... they are not enemies to defeat, they are simply people or groups whose point-of-view is different from mine. I came to understand that from their position, they are also doing what they think is best.[12]

Jungto Society

In 1988, at the age of 35, Venerable Pomnyun was convinced that "the time has come for social activism and Buddhism to become one" so he established Jungto Society.[12] Jungto Society is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that operates several programs:[7]

JTS ("Join Together Society") is an international NGO relief organization with the aim of fulfilling the goals that: #1) The hungry should have food. #2) The sick should receive treatment. #3) Children should have access to education.[7]

Ecobuddha is a corporation originally established in 1994 under the name "Korean Buddhist Environmental Education Institute" that applies the teachings of the Buddha towards environmental preservation.[7]

Good Friends was established in order to promote reconciliation and cooperation between the North and South Koreans, provide humanitarian aid to North Korean residents suffering from extreme economic hardship, carry out activities to improve the human rights situation of North Korean refugees, and advance peaceful reunification of the two Koreas through cooperation with Koreans living overseas.[7]

The Peace Foundation focuses on ways to resolve North Korea's nuclear weapons stance, human rights issues, and to study how best to prepare for the unification of the two Koreas, including specifics of the systematic approach to achieving unification and building a unified Korea.[7]

Awards

Books (in English)

  • Prayer: Letting Go. Jungto Publishing. 2014. ISBN 978-89-85961-84-4.
  • True Wisdom: Ten Precious Guidelines from Bowang Sammaeron for a Happy Life. Jungto Publishing. 2013. ISBN 978-89-85961-80-6.
  • True Freedom: The one Thing that Happy People Have in Common. Jungto Publishing. 2011. ISBN 978-89-85961-68-4.
  • True Happiness: Here and Now. Jungto Publishing. 2010. ISBN 978-89-85961-64-6.
  • Awakening. Jungto Publishing. 2015. ISBN 978-89-85961-98-1.
  • A Monk's Reply to Everyday Problems. Jungto Publishing. 2018. ISBN 979-11-87297-16-1.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kim, Kristie (September 19, 2013). "Buddhist monk and activist Pomnyun shares advice, opinions on North Korea". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "PAP PROJECTS". www.rmaf.org.ph. 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  3. ^ Cho, Yeon-hyeon (January 16, 2007). "가장 존경받는 현존 인물 법륜 스님". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  4. ^ Lee, Kang-eun (November 15, 2022). "'즉문즉설'로 유명한 '국민 멘토' 법륜스님, "'모자이크 붓다'로 봉사하며 살자"". Segye Ilbo. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  5. ^ "INEB Committee". INEB. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  6. ^ "Jungto Society". jungto.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Introduction of the Ven. Pomnyun Sunim". jungto.org. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  8. ^ "Venerable Pomnyun". The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.
  9. ^ Lewis, Craig (October 27, 2020). "Buddhist Monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize". Buddhistdoor Global. Retrieved July 16, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Sunim, 법륜스님 Ven Pomnyun (2022-10-20). A TASTE OF ENLIGHTENMENT: Stories from Seon Buddhism (in Korean). Jungto Publishing. ISBN 979-11-87297-49-9.
  11. ^ "What Is Happiness?". Andrews McMeel Publishing. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Recipients of Niwano Peace Prize > Venerable Pomnyun". Niwano Peace Foundation. November 10, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
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