Present Still

  Photo by the author Why Modern Science Is Catching Up to Buddhism What neuroscience is beginning to map today, the Buddha explored through direct observation of the mind more than 2,600 years ago. The core insight is simple but unsettling: suffering does not come from events themselves, but from the habits with which the mind responds to them . In contemporary terms, these patterns are often explained as dopamine-driven habit loops —cycles in which the brain seeks short-term relief or pleasure at the cost of long-term well-being.  In Buddhism, this same mechanism is described by the Second Noble Truth (Samudaya) : the arising of suffering through Taṇhā, or craving . Drawing on the teachings of Venerable Jeongmok Sunim , we can see how ancient Buddhist psychology offers a precise, experience-based framework that aligns remarkably well with modern neuroscience. The Habit Loop: How Craving Becomes a Neural Pattern In neuroscience, habits are often described as a simple loop—on...

  Photo by the author Unmasking the Roots of Suffering: A Buddhist Path to Inner Peace The Second Noble Truth : How Grasping (Taṇhā) Chains the Modern Mind The Root Cause of Your Anxiety Isn’t External In the relentless churn of modern life—marked by social media pressure, career demands, and the constant pursuit of more—many of us feel an inescapable undercurrent of anxiety and dissatisfaction. We often attribute this chronic discomfort to external factors: a difficult boss, a lack of money, or political instability. However, Venerable Jeongmok Sunim , drawing from the profound wisdom of the Buddha's teachings, invites us to look inward and confront the true source of our suffering: the Second Noble Truth, Samudaya (The Origin of Suffering) . This specific Dharma talk offers more than just philosophy; it provides a crucial psychological blueprint. It asserts that our struggle is not a curse or a flaw in the universe, but a predictable consequence of a powerful internal engine— c...

  Photo by the author Many of us long to find peace right here, right now. Drawing from deep Buddhist wisdom and the teachings of Ven. Jungmok and Ven. Beopsang , this reflection shares a simple path to living in the present: the practice of being born anew in every single moment through gentle mindfulness. The Path to True Freedom: Letting Go of Past and Future Many people search for ways to live in the present moment, free from anxiety about the future and regret about the past.  Mindfulness practices, meditation, and Buddhist wisdom all point to a simple yet radical insight: true freedom begins when we stop clinging to self, emotion, and experience.  This morning, inspired by the teachings of Ven. Jungmok and Ven. Beopsang , I arrived at a quiet realization.  The secret to a light, unhindered life lies in one simple truth: to be born anew in every single moment. To live this way is not mystical or impractical. It is a direct way of meeting reality as it is—withou...

  Photo by the author If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the relentless noise of life, wondering how to truly empty your mind, this journey is for you.  In the quiet corners of Naksansa Temple, I discovered a profound sense of 'Ansim'—a Korean word for inner peace and reassurance —through the wisdom of the waves . Here is my story of finding calm in a busy world. Why I Chose Naksansa: Following the Wisdom of Venerable Beopsang In October 2024, I left the relentless noise of the city behind and headed to Naksansa, a thousand-year-old temple perched on the cliffs of Korea’s East Coast (Yangyang).  The autumn air was crisp, and the temple was bathed in a serene, golden light. To be honest, I had always been curious about temple stays, but never felt a definitive "pull" to experience one—until I encountered the teachings of Venerable Beopsang .  His wisdom opened the door to Buddhism for me, changing my perspective on life entirely. The decisive moment happened on a Su...

  Photo by the author Buddhist Wisdom on Non-Attachment, Effort, and Letting Go Non-attachment is often misunderstood as indifference. At first glance, it may sound like apathy or withdrawal from life. You can work hard. You can care deeply—sometimes more than you realize. You can plant seeds with sincerity. The Buddha did not reject effort or action. What he warned against was clinging —the habit of living inside outcomes and identities. From a Buddhist perspective, success becomes suffering when self-worth is tied to results, recognition, or control. The key is not to live inside the result. As the Diamond Sutra teaches, “Give rise to the mind without dwelling anywhere.” This means acting fully, while allowing results to unfold according to conditions . In that sense, effort without clinging can begin to feel less like pressure, and more like freedom. Take a quiet moment today. Take a deep breath and say to yourself, “I plant the seed with sincerity, and I leave the rest to con...

  Photo by the author There are moments when life feels heavy, not because something terrible has happened, but because we are quietly trying to become someone. It happens quietly, often without noticing, beneath the surface of our ordinary days—while standing in line, scrolling through messages, waiting for recognition, or hoping to be understood. In these quiet moments, something subtle is at work. Buddhism calls it bhava —existence, or more precisely, “becoming.” Understanding Bhava: The Buddhist Insight into Human Exhaustion Recently, while reading the Samyutta Nikaya , I came across a passage that made me stop and reflect for a long time: “Monks, a follower of the Path clearly understands existence (bhava) , clearly understands the origin of existence , clearly understands the cessation of existence , and clearly understands the way leading to the cessation of existence .” — From the Samyutta Nikāya At first, this felt like a distant, difficult teaching. But after sitting wi...