Dharma Wheel

Korean Zen monk, Daesung Sunim, came across a copy of Be As You Are, written by David Godman and decided to translate it into Korean. South Korean monks are often sponsored by industrial companies. Daesung found a business house that was willing to pay for the printing, and he received a big enough donation to print 5,000 copies. Daesung then went on a tour of Zen monasteries and gave away a free copy of Be As You Are to every Zen monk in South Korea who wanted to read it. For several years afterwards Godman would occasionally be accosted and greeted by Korean Zen monks in South India; they were immediately recognisable by their grey tunics.

So there is a Korean monk who cannot make a difference between the Buddha's teachings and those who believe in an ultimate self. Perhaps they should strengthen their studies of actual Buddhist doctrines instead of spreading incorrect views.

Astus, It is unusual but not improbable. I gather the book is about self enquiry. Obviously the Zen monk Daesung Sunim, was taken by the clarity and perhaps the technique was easy to follow....hence the distribution to fellow monks.

greentara wrote:Astus, It is unusual but not improbable. I gather the book is about self enquiry. Obviously the Zen monk Daesung Sunim, was taken by the clarity and perhaps the technique was easy to follow....hence the distribution to fellow monks.

I actually ran into this guy last summer in Santa Monica, while having a drink at the bar in Shutters by Beach. He really did not speak any English at all, but he was enthusiastic that we were Buddhists.

Ramana Maharshi was apparently quite fond of Hwadu method of self inquiry, which is very popular method in Korean zen. If I had to guess, this is probably one of the reasons why Daesung Sunim liked it.