13. The First Temple in Korea

① Jeweled Mountain Temple Days

After completing the three-month winter retreat, I returned to Korea.

Before I left the U.S., many people told me,
“Sunim, no matter what happens, you must come back.”
“You may face many obstacles. But you really have to overcome them and return.”

I replied, “Yes, of course,” but I didn’t fully understand what they meant.

Once I arrived in Korea, I understood right away.

COVID.

I had already been hearing about it little by little while I was in the U.S.,
but by the time I got back to Korea, it had become serious.

“My U.S. visa process has just started… will this be okay?”

What could I do? It was a matter of my own blessings.
All I could do was continue to plant blessings.

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In April 2020, Master came to Korea—despite airport screenings and quarantine.

A layperson in Korea had prepared a small temple in Cheongju, hoping that Master’s teachings could take root here as well.

It was called Jeweled Mountain Temple(JMT, 寶山寺).

During that time, I was staying at another Jogye Order temple, waiting to move to this new way place.

When we heard that Master was coming, a few Sunims and laypeople who had cultivated together at WMT quickly gathered.

We looked around the building together, then sat at a nearby café and talked about plans for the future.

A temple of Master in Korea—finally!!

As we were about to part ways outside the café, Master came up to me and said,

“I know it hasn’t been easy for you in Korea. Please hang in there a little longer…
It’s not much, but please take this (money)."

I felt a lump in my throat.

He handed me a white envelope and spoke with such warmth.

It was completely unexpected. I shook my hands and said, “No, Master, I’m okay!”
But there was no way to refuse.

Here was my teacher—personally giving support to a disciple in a foreign land, one who had not even begun formal training yet.

I felt deeply grateful that he was my good knowing advisor.

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After completing a few more schedules in Korea, Master returned to the U.S.

Starting in May, Ven. XianAn coming from the U.S., Wontaek Sunim in Korea, and I were to join JMT together.

The obstacles were not only COVID.

It also coincided with a period when I had to fulfill my assigned duties at the temple where I left home. It wasn’t easy to explain my situation and work things out.

After going through one challenge after another, and many restless, uncertain moments, we finally stood on the verge of moving in—just before May.

JMT, a former countryside wedding hall—Master Yonghua’s first temple in Korea.

April 2020, with Master at a nearby café

(To be continued)

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