Dharma Sharing: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to Give First In-Person Teachings in Europe and North America since the Pandemic

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Dharma Sharing: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to Give First In-Person Teachings in Europe and North America since the Pandemic

By Craig C Lewis
August 28, 2023

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim. Image courtesy of Jungto Society

The revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님) will undertake his first tour of Europe and North America since the pandemic, giving a series of in-person Dharma talks titled “Casual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness.” His tightly scheduled itinerary will run from 1–22 September, taking in 21 cities—six in Europe and 15 in North America—with 23 Dharma talks scheduled: 14 in Korean and nine in English.

“The wait is finally over! Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is giving Dharma Talks across the US, Canada, France, Germany, and Great Britain for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the respected Korean Seon master, said in an announcement shared with BDG. “We are very happy to have this opportunity to come together in person, to learn and share the wisdom of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Save the date and register!”

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has earned acclaim in South Korea and internationally for his unique and accessible style of Dharma instruction, which follows an informal Q+A format during which participants are invited to raise any issues that concern them. The talks are structured with the aim of helping people realize their own inner contradictions or ignorance, by providing them with the tools and understanding to alleviate their own suffering, in the tradition of the historical Buddha.

“Anyone who seeks a deeper understanding about life—from personal problems to social and global issues, and the essential questions of existence—can ask Ven. Pomnyun Sunim for his insightful perspective, which can help them understand the truth about what matters to him or her and what doesn’t matter at all,” Jungto Society explained. “Ven. Pomnyun Sunim listens to people and guides them based on the Buddha’s teaching, helping them to understand and see their situation from a different perspective.”

The European leg of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim’s tour, to be conducted in Korean only, will take in:

Frankfurt – 1 September
Dusseldorf – 2 September
Berlin – 3 September
Munich – 4 September
Paris – 5 September
London – 6 September

Click here to register for Korean-language Dharma Talks

“These events are open to everyone, free of charge,” Jungto Society noted. “However, due to the limited seating available, we highly recommend registering in advance to secure your spot.”

The North American portion of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim’s Dharma program, includes Korean-language and English-language dates. Those Dharma talks with English-language interpretation are as follows:

Seattle, WA – 9 September
Los Angeles, CA – 11 September
San Diego, CA – 12 September
San Hose, CA – 13 September
Boston, MA – 15 September
Minneapolis, MN – 19 September
Columbus, OH – 20 September
Rockville, MD – 22 September

Click here to register for English-language Dharma talks

Korean-language dates in North America are as follows:

Seattle, WA – 7 September
Vancouver, BC – 8 September
Buena Park, CA – 10 September
Los Angeles, CA – 11 September
Dallas, TX – 14 September
Toronto, ON – 16 September
Tenafly, NJ – 17 September
Flushing, NY – 18 September
Alexandria, VA – 21 September

Click here to register for Korean-language Dharma talks

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a widely revered Korean Dharma teacher, author, and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects across the world, among them: JTS Korea, an international humanitarian relief organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger; Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddha’s teachings and dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering; Ecobuddha, an organization focused on environmental ethics and sustainable living based on the teachings of the Buddha; and Good Friends, which promotes reconciliation and cooperation between the North and South Korea, and provides humanitarian aid to North Koreans. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim also works closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).

In October 2020, the Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan presented the 37th Niwano Peace Prize to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in recognition of his international humanitarian work, intensive environmental and social activism, and his tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill between communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.*

* Buddhist Monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)

Craig C Lewis

Craig Lewis grew up in a transplanted Scottish family in southern England before setting off against all advice to seek light and wisdom in far-off places, rather than staying put and looking within. After repeated encounters with the Buddhadharma as a journalist in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and across Asia, he eventually found refuge as senior editor at BDG, where he reports and writes on the diversity of contemporary manifestations of the Dharma. Craig is also a keen mountain trekker and photographer, finding particular inspiration in the peoples, cultures, and Buddhist expressions of the Himalaya. In his column for BDG, “Chasing Light,” Craig seeks to document encounters, experiences, and epiphanies resulting from his own tentative and faltering path toward liberation. Contact: [email protected]

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