The Proclamation of Shim Gum Do
In this degenerate age the demon is strong and the Dharma is weak. Attached to machine technology, we lose our true self, lose the true way and cannot find true life and true direction of consciousness. This world is full of suffering, complications and fighting amongst us. Soon humanity will disappear by itself.
Unable to witness this suffering, we rise up with vigor, establish Shim Gum Do and use the Buddha’s Great Vow of Great Love and Great Compassion so that we may give the Bright Dharma to all ignorant beings.
What is Shim Gum Do? Shim means mind. Gum means sword. Do means path. What is Shim (mind)? Avatamsaka Sutra says, “If you want to understand that all the three worlds are Buddha, you must perceive world substance. All things are created by mind alone.” This means that if you want to understand the true way you must perceive where name and form come from and you must understand that name and form are created by mind. In this world, one by one, each thing is complete; one by one, each thing has substance. If you cut off all thinking, return to before thinking then this is your substance and universal substance. We call this ‘primary point’. If you keep this mind, you and everything, you and the universe, become one. Clear like space, without name and form, without opposites, that is the Absolute. We call it Mind or Buddha or God or Truth or Energy. This is Shim.
What is Gum (sword)? An eminent teacher said, “There are two kinds of Gum; a killing Gum and a life-giving Gum.” Breaking all demons, it helps us find the truth. Whether killing or bestowing life, without hindrance, it has complete freedom. Therefore, our Gum chases evil away, helps goodness, makes the correct way, manifests Great Love, Great Compassion, the Great Bodhisattva Way and fights for the cause of justice. Sometimes this Gum appears as a steel sword, sometimes a wooden sword, a fist sword, a mind sword or a no-name-no-form-energy sword. On the outside, it repulses enemies of peace; internally it cuts off our ignorance, makes our bad karma disappear, enables us to get complete freedom and to find the True Light.
In our true self, which is clear like space, there is infinite energy. If we function correctly then this is the Gum of correct function. Sometimes it appears as Buddha or a Bodhisattva, sometimes as a warrior god, sometimes as a soldier, a salesman, a farmer, a man, a woman or a child. Any place anytime, if we follow the situation then what appears as dirty water becomes a clear and pure world.
What is Do (path)? Zen Master Nam Cheon said, “Everyday mind is the path.” This means the true way. Without hindrance anywhere, the Great Way has no gate. If you make your opinion, your condition and your situation disappear then your true self appears and finding the correct opinion, correct situation and correct condition are possible. Then all that you can see, hear or smell is the truth, all is ‘Do’. Do not make ‘I, my, me’, then everyday life is the truth and the path. Then you will get the Great Bodhisattva Way and it will be possible to save all beings from suffering. The name for this is Do.
Shim is Buddha, which is clear like space.
Gum is Dharma, which is the correct function of energy.
Do is Sangha, which is Great Love and Great Compassion.
A student of Shim Gum Do attains a mind which is clear like space, attains the Dharma of correct function of energy, only goes straight with the Great Vow of Great Love and Great Compassion and becomes one with the three precious ones: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Buddha (Shim) is the realm of correct emotion, correct meditation, correct belief and beauty.
Dharma (Gum) is the realm of intellectual wisdom and understanding of the truth.
Sangha (Do) is the realm of correct will, precepts, practicing and goodness.
Therefore, Shim Gum Do is the correct functioning of energy, attaining truth and Great Love and Great Compassion and only going straight with the Great Vow. Then you will attain the wisdom Gum, the correct emotion Gum, the correct will Gum; three mind swords. Thus you will attain the perfection of truth, goodness and beauty. Yours will be the world of complete peace, great brightness and great freedom.
1971
World Shim Gum Do Proclamation
Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee
Shim Gum Do Founding Master Zen Master Chang Sik Kim
© 1985 American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association, Inc., all rights reserved
Happy New Year 2024!
