Dharma Exchange

See some of Master Pohwa's Dharma talks at You Tube or the Seoul video page.


HOW KOAN HELPS YOU

In the BZC Zen Session, member Chris asked, "How will Koan help me?"
Sunim, "You are so welcome."
(Chris stared blankly.)
Sunim, "Do you understand?"
Chris, "I have no idea."
Sunim, "That's your idea."


TEACHING COLORS TO BLIND

While John, a member of BZC, was driving, he asked Sunim, "How do you teach colors to the blind?"
Sunim replied, "Do not run the red light."


THE REASON OF LIVING LIFE

At a Zen lecture given to the Asian community in Virginia, a gentleman asked Sunim, " Why do you live?"
Sunim said, "From where did you see my living?"


THE EXPRESSION OF TRUE LOVE

During a Zen session at Innerfaith Zen Community, NYC, Arvind asked Sunim, "What can you speak about love?"
Sunim: "Thou Saidst."


WHERE ARE THEY GONE?

By the Potomac River, Sunim asked the student Mu-ah, "What are they?'
Mu-ah, "They are geese."
Sunim, "Where are they going?"
Mu-ah, 'To the North."
Sunim said, "Ask me."
Mu-ah asked and Sunim left the place immediately.


OUCH OUCH!

Sunim asked a working Hindu monk, "Isn't it so hard?"
The monk said, "It's not, because I am not working at all but my God Vishnu works all day long for me."
Sunim immediately pinched his arm and asked, "Are you hurting or is your God hurting?"
The monk thought for a while and said, "My God hurts."
Sunim said, "Ask me."
The monk pinched Sunim and asked same question.
Sunim replied loudly, "Ouch Ouch!."


THE BEST QUESTION

David, a member who is a medical doctor, asked Sunim, "The best question is silence, isn't it?"
Sunim kept a good silence.


HOW MANY DISCIPLES DO YOU HAVE?

A Mahayana Buddhist monk asked Sunim at a Buddhist event, "I have 18 monk disciples. How many disciples do you have?"
Sunim replied, "Four disciples are not dull."
“Where are are they?”
“Eyes, nose, tongue and ears.”


WHY RED?

A student asked in a Zen Talk at BZC, "Why is the inside of the watermelon so red?'
Sunim replied, "Six- feet- golden body."
(Buddha's shape is called Six Feet Golden Body in the Sutra)


SHOW ME YOUR DHARMA

During a session, a student asked Sunim, "'Show me your Buddha-Dharma!"
Sunim showed the student his middle finger.


Dharma Stick I

At a evening Zen class in Baltimore Zen Center member Hyun-Von asked Sunim, "Do not call THAT a dharma stick, nor call THAT a dharma stick. Then, what do you want to call it?"

Sunim hit her with dharma stick.


Dharma Stick II

Mu-Ah, a member of PZS in NYC, asked, "Do not call THIS a dharma stick, nor call THIS a dharma stick. Then, what do you want to call it?"

Sunim replied, "A blind turtle met a piece of wood."


Tombstone

At a Zen class member Chris Paul asked Sunim, "In the graveyard, where can I find my tombstone?"

Sunim replied, "It's written."


Tower of Babel

At Baltimore Zen center, member Hyun-Von asked Sunim, "Not even a thought has arisen, is there still a sin or not?"

Sunim replied, "Tower of Babel!"


Already Understand

Alicia Morrissey, a member from NYC, said , "You already understand, Sunim."
Sunim replied, "I am so proud of you."

Alicia bowed to Sunim.
Sunim hit Alicia with his dharma stick.


Coming to US

A member asked Sunim," Sunim why did you come to the US?"

Sunim said, "Do you have anything more to declare?"


Seeing

At a Zen class in Baltimore Zen Center a member Kathleen asked Sunim, "When you see the flower, why do you not see God?"

Sunim replied, "One eyed Jack was the sharpest shooter of his time."


Three Times Three is Ten

A member, Charles, who is a pro-golfer, asked Sunim while the class was drinking tea, "If nobody saw the biggest one, and nobody saw the smallest one, then what size is this? (presents tea cup)

Sunim said, "Three times three is ten."

The Sound of One Hand Clapping

A member, One-Ear (George), asked Sunim, "What is the sound of one-hand-clapping?"
Sunim replied, "The wall has ears."

Background

Mr. T, visiting from another Sangha asked:
"Can you answer,? what is your teacher's background?"
Sunim answered: "Lemonade comes from lemons."
Mr. T said: "Thirsty people will suck lemons and think it's lemonade."
Sunim responded: "You have a very interesting background."

A Real Golfer

At the Phoenix Zen Sangha, a member, Sung-man, said, "I canceled all golf schedules today when I heard you were coming here, Master."
Sunim said, "You are a man who plays real golf." The Grand Master laughed.

Real or Illusion?

At an interview, Kum Ryong (Jon Powell) asked: "Sunim, one day you said it is real when you hit the floor with the staff.? On another day, you said it was an illusion when you hit the floor with the staff.? Is it real or is it an illusion?"
Sunim said: "It is not illusion nor real."
Kum Ryong asked again, "Then, what is it?"
Then Sunim hit the floor with his staff two times.

Buddhism in One Sentence

At another recent interview, Tae Woo (Alison Hudson) said to Sunim, "In Shunryu Suzuki's biography, A Crooked Cucumber, a long-time, but still confused student asked Suzuki: 'Please explain Buddhism in one sentence.'? Suzuki replied: 'Everything changes.'"
Sunim said, "I would not have answered that way."
Tae Woo asked Sunim, "Please explain Buddhism in one sentence."
Sunim replied, "Period."

Call Me By My Real Name

A visitor asked Sunim, "Call me by my real name."
Sunim said, "Call me by my real name."

Expectations

After a Dharma talk at Columbia University, a student asked Sunim, "Do you like New York City?"
Sunim replied, "Yes, I like the Big Apple very much."
The student said, "What are you expecting to do in the City?"
Sunim abruptly held out his empty hand to the student.