I Became Famous

Translated by Ian and Henry Haight (original: http://blog.naver.com/mahabira6061/70139611781)

While I was shopping I had a few interviews in the city of Sault Ste. Marie. The next day I was in the newspaper. People said it was their city’s 100th anniversary and having a monk come by must mean something. Ever since I came here I am experiencing so many things. Even though the newspaper was a city newspaper I was on the cover page. While I was traveling to my next host’s house, I stopped by a small shop and drank some refreshment. A stranger was riding a bike around the area and he stopped as soon as he got in front of me. He stared at me for a little and I said hello. He told me that I was famous. I asked, “How?” His response was that he saw me in the newspaper exchanging a bow with another person, and he wanted to try it with me. He bowed differently from how we were supposed to bow so I taught him the proper way.

On the way to my host’s house I saw three posters like the one above (see picture). From Sault Ste. Marie to the area I am in currently, everything has been ready. I am going to be at my next host’s house for three days in a row so I will most likely have an easy next few days. No hills and the road is pretty flat so it is pretty easy to travel. My host’s house is about 130 km from here so I think I should leave pretty early. A new video of an interview I did will be on the Facebook site David operates for me (http://www.facebook.com/JourneyOfSpirit)—please come visit! ^^

The Link between the Bear and Destiny

Translated by Ian Haight. thanks Ian!

Original post: http://blog.naver.com/mahabira6061/70140440790



Sorry for the late blog update. You’re probably worried, but when I go camping and find a place to stay there’s usually no Wi-Fi or I’m resting so it’s not easy to update the blog. Today I’m staying put for more than a day so I have some time for updates. I hope you all understand. Don’t worry too much because a lot of my new acquaintances are helping me. After Marathon there was a place called Wawa where I stayed at. The church people there said I could spend the night at their church. Right now it feels like half-camp, half-home. I didn’t know I had these relationships, which I’m so grateful for. My fingers and my left hand feel numb but it doesn’t hurt so I can still wander. Thank you.

An Easy-going and Relaxed Canadian Monk, and Lorry Who’s Become my Hands and Feet

This is a translation of Sunim's blog in Winnipeg, originally posted on June 7, 2012.

Translated by Ian and Henry Haight (original post: http://blog.naver.com/mahabira6061/70139751955)

The person on the right is the monk Fredrich Louis Ulrich. They call the monks “sensei” (instructor in Japanese) over here.  He is currently 78 and is French. Fredrich also stated that he will work until the age of 90 and will retire. He said that he was late today because he was at another funeral today.  Fredrich seems to be a very relaxed and honest person. A lot of people asked me recently how long I am going to be a monk; I told them that in Korea monks do their job until they die. Once I told them that this was the reason why I am not married and I don’t visit my family.  They looked at me in shock.

It is Wednesday and for 3 days Lorry became my hands and feet and helped me go to the Korean Clinic, take care of business at the bank and buy goods. She is 60 years old and lost her husband a few years ago. Her father is about 90 years old and has a 69 year old girlfriend. he he.  They want to learn Buddhism but they don’t really have an instructor so they are very respectful. 


At the bike shop, I bought a new seat, but the owner said that since I am a “tourist bike monk,” the owner gave me the seat for free. Wherever we went, Lorry introduced me and explained what I was doing and I was so shy…even at the restaurant a person next to me said that he was a monk too. He invited me to Facebook with him. 


For 3 days in the Winnipeg Korean Clinic I had acupuncture treatment. I lost my sense of feeling in my right hand and the doctor told me it was because I gripped the handle of the bike pretty hard. The manager of the clinic said I would get all my treatments free because I was a monk traveling in a foreign area. What a great person!  I think I am in pretty good relationships with others ever since I came here.  Is that why I wanted to come to Winnipeg so badly?^^  My finger wasn’t completely normal but the doctor told me that it will get better in time.

This is the cell phone I got today. Through good communications, David was given a phone in lieu of money. I got a place where I could stay while I am here and just in case my internet is down, David gave this phone to me. The phone can only text and it is all in English. ☺ I can’t check my Facebook with this phone, and it’s funny that this is my phone but I don’t know how to use it.  Everyone is doing my work for me. I don’t know how this is possible but I think the term “blissful emptiness” from Buddhism fits the situation...the truth is empty and self-evident. Those that I didn’t know and those that I used to know are now helping me. According to sensei Frederich, it’s “good karma, nice karma.” That may be so. This phone only works in Canada so when I go to the United States, they said they would change it.

Things got bigger without me knowing

Preface: Lost in translation! I am not a student of Zen master Seung Sahn, but was trying to convey that Seung Sahn has a network of temples in the United States that will welcome him. I also do not live in New York. He did get the most important part of the message: That in the United States, he will have plenty of places to stay. Anyway, enjoy his post. - Adam Tebbe

Translated by Ian and Brennan Haight (original post: http://blog.naver.com/mahabira6061/70139611781)

Things got bigger without me knowing; I didn’t know I had friends.

When I got here I learned something new. David wanted to help me so he sent emails everywhere. Robert showed me the message being sent by email and it was a really long letter. The email said, “Helping a monk is like helping yourself.” I think Robert even sent an email to Catholics in South America, and it seems they responded. I was concerned because there is a lot of crime in South America so I should be careful there; the people from South America said they would try their best to be of help. On Facebook, there’s a page made by Adam Tebbe. Adam owns a website called “Sweeping Zen.” I learned Adam has written about helping me and is spreading the word to everyone through his website. The Facebook page is called “Journey of Spirit: a Buddhist Monk Bikes the Americas.”

On that same day I Skyped Adam for the first time and introduced myself to him. Adam said he was a student of the monk Seung Sahn and that he knew something about Buddhism. Adam used to live in New York, but I was surprised to learn there are students of Seung Sahn in America. Is it a Seung Sahn monk club? A temple? A meditation group? Anyway, Adam said he’d made a schedule for where I can stay while traveling, and that I shouldn’t worry about where to stay, and that I should come to America. I’m not the only one on a pilgrimage now.

David’s email message said, “This Korean monk can’t speak any English and is on a journey without any network to be of help. If you see a person with a safety jacket riding a bike on the road, it’s the monk, so we must help him.” Maybe people think we need to help for this reason, while others just want to give help.

When I passed Winnipeg there was a place called “Kenora,” which I knew was a “place to stay.” I called David and he said the place was ready for me. I thanked David but he said, “Thank you for letting me do this.” *Sigh* How did I meet someone like this?

Even today a lady from Winnipeg named Lorry came to see me again. As she was waiting she gave us blueberries as a present. I said I had to go to Robert’s bike shop for the bike, but she said she would help get the bike for us. Yesterday we saw an oriental clinic I wanted to go to, but I couldn’t really speak English so she couldn’t understand me. Surprisingly the bike shop turned out to be next to the oriental clinic that I saw (Am I lucky? Do I have some kind of divine power?).

I went to the oriental hospital and explained about my hand. The squeezing still hurt so the doctor said I had to be treated with acupuncture for 3 days. The doctor cured me for free and wished me luck on my trip.

Next door at the bike shop, Lorry explained about my trip so the shop gave me a free saddle. She took a picture and uploaded it to my Facebook page. Everything there is in English; I can’t even read it. I cannot read my own site! David, Adam, Lorry, and Robert know me so I guess they can write on it. It’s true: I can’t even read or write English. My friends are writing everything.

I don’t know if this is my fortune. Water doesn’t stagnate when it flows. In the same way, humans should move so they will find their relationships with others. If you take a test you’ll know how well you’ve studied. If you overcome a limitation you will know your heart; tears are opening my heart. My pilgrimage is not only my path, but also a journey to connect with the lives of others.