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.
At Dharma meeting, on King Street, Old Town Alexandria, VA, a visitor from other Sangha asked Sunim, “Call me by my true name.”Sunim said, “Call me by my true name!”
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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.”
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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
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.
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 member, One-Ear (George), asked Sunim, “What is the sound of one-hand-clapping?”Sunim replied, “The wall has thousand ears.”
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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.”
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A student asked Sunim,” Sunim why did you come to the US?” Sunim said, “Do you have anything more to declare?”Later, the student asked again, ‘I have meditated with your answer many days, Sunim.But still I don’t get it.Why did you answer on that way?”Sunim responded at once: “Welcome to the US.”The student got awakened.
A member from NYC, said , “You already understand, Sunim.”Sunim replied, “I am so proud of you.” He bowed to Sunim.Sunim hit him with his dharma stick.
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