• Description

“A fascinating, readable, and refreshingly honest series of essays tracing one man’s search for the meaning of life, which he eventually finds as a cleric in the Won Buddhist order. Along the way he shares with his readers practical insights he has learned about how to follow the Buddhist path to rising above the three causes of unhappiness (greed, anger, and foolishness) and maintaining the mindfulness which will make both our own lives and our relationships with others better. This is an excellent introduction to Buddhism. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about what Buddhism means to its practitioners.”

Donald L. Baker, Ph.D. Professor of Korean History and Civilization, University of British Columbia

Introduction

I am the “you” within you, and you are another “me” within me.

• Contents

011 Two Minds Reflecting Each Other 014 Lonely Prayer 017 It Was on That Hill... 020 From the KMA to Sungkyunkwan 024 The Scent of Dandelions 028 Eat, Pray, Love 032 I Run 036 When the Wind Is Cold 039 The Odyssey 043 Aoi (あおい) 048 Be Like the Sea 051 I Must Return 055 Underneath the Wheel 059 In the Heavens Above and Earth Below 065 Sea Story 069 Do Not Do Anything 073 Daily Routine 077 A Night Shining with Stars 080 Sadness on Lunar New Year’s Eve—Why? 085 Nothing If There’s Nothing, Something If There’s Something 088 He’ll Do Well 092 The Flowers Will Bloom 098 Guryong Village in the Foothills of Mireuksan Mountain 101 Spring Breeze 105 The Hidden Toenail 108 Superpowers

111 How Old Is Heaven? 115 Have Some Tea 119 Life Weighs Heavy like a Mountain 124 Sunflower Reflections 128 In Search of My Lost Self 131 What’s Past Is Past 135 Checking the Mind 139 Addiction 144 Dragon Ball 148 You Have to Taste It to Know the Flavor 152 99°C (210.2°F) 156 “Who Are You?” 159 Be Kind 162 The Man Who Shines 166 Lhasa: The First Town under Heaven 171 The Market Was a Bust Today 174 Waiting for the Highest Truth 178 Peace Will Come, Peace Will Come 182 “Nammu Amit’abul” on My Lips 186 When I Was You 190 An Offering of Bracken 194 Shine the Light of Your Flower Lantern 199 Mountain Temple on a Rainy Day 203 A Farewell Dishwashing 206 Leave on a journey for your practice