The Way of Clear Mind, Clear Thinking and Clear Action
On December 17, 2014 in Seoul, South Korea Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim was awarded the 2014 International PEN Korean Center’s Special Literature Award for his book: Great Nature: Poems for All of Nature.
Dharma Talk Friday May 6th – 5:45 – 7:30 PM
A Great Zen Master asks: Do you know your own mind? Can you see your own mind?
Spring is a time for new beginnings. Come join us on Friday April 1st for our free meditation and reading of a Dharma Talk given by Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim.
There will be a short demonstration of the Zen martial art Shim Gum Do after the Dharma Talk.
All are welcome!
Let’s Honor Sa Bu Nim on World Book Day
Today, April 23, 2022, is the 27th World Book Day. World Book Day was organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Sa Bu Nim is the author of 18 books of poetry, The Art of Zen Sword and The First Star Black Belt Forms of Shim Gum Do Zen Sword. Sa Bu Nim’s poems are filled with Dharma lessons that explore the true essence of the universe, our planet, all of nature, and what it means to be human.
You can honor Sa Bu Nim and help Shim Gum Do by purchasing his books. Please go to AmazonSmile and choose American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association as your charity and buy some of Sa Bu Nim’s books.
Sign the Petition for Establishing Sa Bu Nim Square
Sa Bu Nim came to the United States in 1974 and began teaching Shim Gum Do. In 1981 American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association established Shim Gwang Sa – the Mind Light Temple at 203 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, Massachusetts; and opened the doors to all. Over the years Sa Bu Nim taught countless students who came to learn. He was a steady neighborhood pillar in the ever changing neighborhood of Brighton. He worked hard to improve the property and to bring beauty to Brighton. He spread Shim Gum Do across the globe establishing centers in Korea, the United States and Italy. Help us honor the legacy of Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim, please follow this link to sign a petition for Sa Bu Nim Square:
Sign Sa Bu Nim Square Petition
Dharma Talk Friday April 1st – 5:45 – 7:30 PM
A Great Zen Master asks: Do you know your own mind? Can you see your own mind?
Spring is a time for new beginnings. Come join us on Friday April 1st for our free meditation and reading of a Dharma Talk given by Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim. There will be a short demonstration of the Zen martial art Shim Gum Do after the Dharma Talk.
All are welcome!
Sa Bu Nim is Forever in Our Hearts and Minds
Today we honor Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim who passed away one year ago, on March 12, 2021. Sa Bu Nim will always be in our hearts and minds.
Sa Bu Nim gave us the great Dharma of Shim Gum Do – the Mind Sword Path. Sa Bu Nim taught us the way of clear mind, clear thinking and clear action. By training Shim Gum Do we keep Sa Bu Nim’s Dharma alive. If we are clear; our clarity brings truth and brightness to our families, our cities, our countries and to all humanity. This was Sa Bu Nim’s great message to our planet.
Dharma Talk Friday March 4th – 5:45 – 7:30 PM
A Great Zen Master asks: Do you know your own mind? Can you see your own mind?
Spring is a time for new beginnings. Come join us on Friday March 4th for our free meditation and reading of a Dharma Talk given by Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim.
There will be a short demonstration of the Zen martial art Shim Gum Do after the Dharma Talk.
All are welcome!
Dharma Talk Friday February 4th – 5:45 – 7:30 PM
A Great Zen Master asks: Do you know your own mind? Can you see your own mind?
Start the Korean Water Tiger New Year learning more about clear mind, clear thinking, and clear action. Come join us on Friday February 4th for our free meditation and reading of a Dharma Talk given by Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim.
There will be a short demonstration of the Zen martial art Shim Gum Do after the Dharma Talk.
All are welcome!
Happy Korean New Year of the Tiger!
Today, February 1, 2022 is the Korean New Year; it is the year of the Water Tiger.
Shim Gum Do training helps us to keep clear minds, clear thinking, and clear action.
With clarity we can learn from our mistakes and become better human beings. If we help ourselves then we can help others.
A new year is a new beginning. We pray this year for good luck, good health and success to all who live here on our planet.
Happy 78th Birthday Sa Bu Nim!
You gave us the Great Dharma of Shim Gum Do, Mind Sword Path, the way of clear mind, clear thinking and clear action.
We always remember you with great love and great compassion. We especially honor you today, January 8th, 2022, on your 78th Birthday.
Shim Gum Do is eternal because it lives in all of us and we continue to pass on Shim Gum Do and your teaching now and into the future. We are eternally grateful to you, Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim.
Dharma Talk Friday January 7th – 5:45 – 7:30 PM!
A Great Zen Master asks: Do you know your own mind? Can you see your own mind?
Start the New Year learning more about clear mind, clear thinking and clear action. Come join us on Friday January 7th for our free meditation and reading of a Dharma Talk given by Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim.
There will be a short demonstration of the Zen martial art Shim Gum Do after the Dharma Talk.
All are welcome!
Happy New Year 2022
Today is January 1st, 2022, it is a New Year. The past few years have been filled with unthinkable tragedies – an ongoing pandemic, natural disasters and so much loss – that have touch people all over the world. Sa Bu Nim often talked about taking care of your ‘seed’. Your seed is what it is that you want to accomplish in your life. Every moment by moment of every day of our lives are filled with challenges. Every day we all have responsibilities that we have to take care of. In the background you have to take care of your seed; nurture it. Sa Bu Nim talked about the importance of only going straight, to keep in your mind what you want. The moment you stop, your accomplishment is always just ahead or around the corner. The moment you stop, your seed will never sprout and grow.
Today a new year begins. Take a moment to reflect on yourselves and your ‘seed’. This year try to practice Shim Gum Do mind training even for 5 or 10 minutes every day. Cut thinking and take care of your seed.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with health, joy, love and success.
Chong Kwan Jang Nim
Our 200 Year Old Revere Bell
Our Shim Gwang Sa Temple holds a piece of American History. The bell hanging in our bell tower was made by Paul Revere’s son, Joseph in 1821. Paul Revere, known as a Patriot in the American Revolution, started casting bells in 1792. In the early 1800s, Paul Revere’s son Joseph traveled to Europe to study bell casting. Over the years the Revere foundry went on to make hundreds of bells for churches, ships, court houses, schools, town criers, and factories.
In “The Bells of Paul Revere, his sons & grandsons” by Edward and Evelyn Stickney (Revised Edition 1976), on page 21 our bell is described as follows:
1821 First Parish Church, Brighton, Mass. – 1115lbs.
REVERE BOSTON 1821
First Parish of Brighton
To replace Revere bell of 1809
Dharma Talk Friday December 3rd – 5:45 – 7:30 PM!
A Great Zen Master asks: Do you know your own mind? Can you see your own mind?
Learn more about clear mind, clear thinking and clear action. Come join us on Friday December 3rd for our free meditation and reading of a Dharma Talk given by Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim.
There will be a short demonstration of the Zen martial art Shim Gum Do after the Dharma Talk.
All are welcome!
Tonight’s Dharma Talk is Cancelled
The Meditation and Dharma Talk scheduled for this evening has been cancelled.
The next Dharma Talk is scheduled for Friday December 3rd – 5:45 – 7:30 PM.
Shim Gwang Sa in the News
Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim brought the Dharma of Shim Gum Do to Brighton in 1981. Shim Gwang Sa, located at 203 Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton, is featured in the newest edition of DigBoston in an interesting article about ‘repurposed’ churches in Boston: Jesus and Buddha Shake Hands