I frequently visit three blogs that have deeply inspired me: Seolchon’s Blog, Buyu’s Blog, and Mr. Lee Byung-wook’s Blog, also on Naver. Through their heartfelt writings, I’ve learned so much about Buddhism and the path of practice. I believe these three blogs are among the best in Korea for studying the Buddha’s teachings. Until now, I’ve only been a reader of their generous and insightful posts. But recently, I’ve felt the urge to start my own blog. Here’s why.
Before getting into the reasons, let me briefly reflect on my life. Outwardly, I grew up in a Buddhist household. My mother, after two miscarriages, completed a 100-day prayer at Cheongryang Temple and gave birth to me. Ironically, she’s the laziest person I know. Still, she did it. So I grew up accompanying her to the temple on Buddha’s Birthday, occasionally smelling incense or bowing in the Dharma Hall. It wasn’t unfamiliar to me, but still, neither my mother nor I could truly be called Buddhists.
Time passed, and from the summer to winter of 2017, I went through a period where my heart shattered. I was 34 at the time, and this was the fourth major heartbreak of my life. (I clearly distinguish between major and minor heartbreaks.) During that time, I came across a sentence in the book The Diamond Sutra by Kim Yong-ok:
“Because this exists, that exists. Because this ceases, that ceases.”
The buddha
Only now do I understand that this is a teaching on causality and dependent origination. At the time, I didn’t. But I think that sentence comforted me because it stirred an awareness of causality deep within. The principle of cause and effect, even briefly contemplated, can bring relief to the heart. I now understand that clearly.
That moment was the beginning of my Buddhist study. I read The Diamond Sutra, and also some of the Madhyamaka philosophy by the late Professor Kim Seong-cheol. I explored other Mahayana teachings too, though mostly through lectures rather than books. Then I encountered the Early Buddhism teachings of Venerable Gakmuk, and I shifted naturally into Early Buddhism. I accepted it without resistance, and any doubts were resolved quickly. That still hasn’t changed.
Then in early 2024, the sixth—and greatest—heartbreak of my life came. Even if I added up all the previous ones, it wouldn’t compare. I was completely broken. No metaphor can fully describe it. And from that moment, I dived even deeper into the Buddha’s teachings. Because only the Dhamma could extinguish that kind of flame.
In April 2024, I went to a Goenka Vipassana retreat, not fully understanding why. I thought, “I just want to escape this suffering through meditation.” That’s what I told myself. But now I see that there was a much deeper causal link that I wasn’t aware of at the time.
After that, I also attended retreats at a Buddhist temple called Buddha Seonwon, where Venerable Jingyeong resides. But the greatest influence came from Dr. Jeon Hyun-soo. His words—“With jhāna, most suffering can be extinguished”—touched me deeply. I desperately wanted jhāna. I still do. In fact, I already knew about Dr. Jeon before the heartbreak. Once a month, I would visit his clinic to ask questions. I also continued visiting different meditation centers.
Then, in December 2024, I met my current teacher.
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
Since January of this year, I’ve been practicing under this teacher’s guidance. Many things have changed. Practicing insight and concentration together feels new to me. And above all, what sets my teacher apart is that she openly says she is an arahant. To my knowledge, no one else in Korea has ever declared that. I’ve been receiving guidance from her for six months now, without paying a single won. I attend a monthly gathering of noble disciples. It is something I’m deeply grateful for, and still feels almost unreal.
Over the past six months, I’ve also redefined my life’s goal:
“To appropriately address the suffering that has already arisen, to skillfully face whatever suffering may come, and to walk the path toward the end of rebirth—toward becoming a noble disciple.”
It took a long time for me to post this first blog entry. I want to record and reflect on my journey toward liberation, and also support those who walk a similar path. That’s why I started this blog.
Other reasons? They’re small. It may not be easy to manage and decorate this blog, but I’m finally starting.
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