Shim Gum Do - Mind Sword Path

The Way of Clear Mind, Clear Thinking and Clear Action

Shim Gum Do - Mind Sword Path


THE WAY OF CLEAR MIND, CLEAR THINKING AND CLEAR ACTION

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Shim Gum Do Founding Master

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim, was born in South Korea in 1944. When he was thirteen met his teacher Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee. He gave young Zen Master Kim a koan. "A great Zen Sword Master saw the reflection of the moon in a pool of water. He drew out his sword and cut the reflection in half and the two halves separated. How is this possible?" Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee told Zen Master Kim that he could find out the answer to the koan and attain martial art enlightenment if he came to live at his temple and follow his teachings. Following this meeting, Zen Master Kim entered the Hwa Gye Sa temple in Seoul, Korea. At the temple, Zen Master Kim's days were filled with practice. The Dharma was taught through the experiences of the daily life of the temple. Zen Master Kim's temple work of cleaning and cooking symbolized the importance of clearing the mind, taking care of the basic necessities of life and not wasting food or energy. Throughout practicing and working, Zen Master Chang Sik Kim always kept the seed that he would one day attain martial art enlightenment. When Zen Master Kim was 21, his teacher sent him on a 100 day meditation retreat. During this retreat the art of Shim Gum Do was revealed to Zen Master Kim through his meditation and he attained Mind Sword enlightenment.

In 1971, Shim Gum Do Founding Master Zen Master Chang Sik Kim officially introduced Shim Gum Do with the Proclamation of Shim Gum Do. This proclamation is the doctrinal explanation of Shim Gum Do, the Mind Sword Path as a Zen Buddhist practice and path. Zen Master Kim established the Korean Shim Gum Do Association and began teaching Shim Gum Do in Korea. In 1974, Zen Master Kim came to the United States and began teaching Shim Gum Do. In 1978 he established the American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association and in 1991 he established the World Shim Gum Do Association unifying all of the worldwide Shim Gum Do Associations.

Currently Zen Master Chang Sik Kim lives and teaches at his temple Shim Gwang Sa, the Mind Light Temple in Brighton, Massachusetts. Zen Master Kim is also accomplished in other Zen arts - the art of calligraphy and of poetry - through which he continues to express the power of the moment. He is a published author of a number of books: 17 Poetry books that have been translated into six languages and "The Art of Zen Sword, A History of Shim Gum Do" and "The First Star Black Belt Forms of Shim Gum Do Zen Sword, The Manual of Course Material from White to First Star Black Belt." Visit our Books Page for a full listing.

Shim Gum Do is an embodiment of Zen and Martial Arts. Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim began formal Zen study and practice by entering the Hwa Gye Sa in Seoul, Korea under the tutelage of Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee at a young age. After several years of practice, Zen Master Chang Sik Kim underwent a retreat, to attempt to achieve enlightenment.

What is enlightenment? To speak in words of something is not the thing itself. 'Enlightenment' is the great Zen experience of attaining the state of all knowing, of elevating the consciousness, of perceiving beyond the senses and the self, attaining complete emptiness, becoming one with all. During this retreat, the forms of Shim Gum Do were revealed to Zen Master Chang Sik Kim through his elevated state and he ultimately attained Mind Sword enlightenment. Zen Master Chang Sik Kim has brought to life a new art form which transcends the traditional forms of Zen and martial arts by bringing together the non action of Zen meditation and action through the Shim Gum Do forms.

Shim Gum Do is a complete system of meditation and action meditation encompassing an entire martial system which includes: Sword, Shin Boep (which translates to mean Body Dharma), Ho Shin Sul (which translates to mean self-defense), Long Stick, Two Sword and Short Stick.

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim lives and teaches at Shim Gwang Sa, the Mind Light Temple which is located in Brighton a Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood. He is called Sa Bu Nim by his students, which means father teacher. Shim Gwang Sa is home to World Shim Gum Do Association and American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association and offers ongoing classes, meditation sessions and a residential training program.

News & Announcements

We Honor Sa Bu Nim

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim passed away peacefully at Shim Gwang Sa on Friday March 12, 2021.

Known as “Sa Bu Nim” (father teacher) he was the creator of Shim Gum Do (Mind Sword Path), an integrated practice of Zen martial arts and meditation. With branches in Italy and Korea, Shim Gum Do’s world headquarters, Shim Gwang Sa (Mind Light Temple), is in the historic 1894 First Parish in Brighton stone church on Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton, Massachusetts.

Sa Bu Nim was born in a small farming village in Korea in 1944. When he was 13 he entered the Hwa Gye Sa temple of the Jogye Order of Zen Buddhism and began his formal Zen training under Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee, Dae Seon Sa Nim. Dae Seon Sa Nim gave him the precept’s name “Won Gwang” (Universal Light).

When he was 21, Sa Bu Nim underwent a 100-day meditation retreat and during that time attained Mind Sword enlightenment. Following his retreat he began teaching his path, emphasizing compassion and meditation through the practice of his martial arts. He always said that Shim Gum Do training was about developing a clear mind, clear thinking and clear action. He came to America in 1974 and became a United States citizen in 1985.

In addition to his teaching, Sa Bu Nim was an accomplished calligraphy artist and poet. He has written more than 83,000 poems, some of which are published in his 18 poetry books beginning with The Pillow Head Collects Your Dreams in 1996. His work has been translated into Korean, French, Spanish, Persian and Japanese. In 2014 he was awarded the International PEN Korean Center’s Special Literature Award for his book Great Nature: Poems for All of Nature. He has also written two books about Shim Gum Do.

He is survived by his wife, Shim Gum Do Head Master Mary Jeanette Stackhouse, a large extended family, and by the worldwide Shim Gum Do Family of Heroes.

Due to the COVID Pandemic, no public gathering is scheduled at this time. All are invited to join virtually in a ceremony to honor Sa Bu Nim on Saturday March 20th @ 11 AM EST via a live feed through Facebook and Instagram

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to the American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association:



February 2021 Shim Gwang Sa COVID Update


February Shim Gwang Sa COVID Update

It is Winter here in Boston and Shim Gwang Sa continues to be closed. It is hard to believe that it has been more than a year of living in the COVID Pandemic. We are more hopeful now that the COVID vaccination program is moving forward in Massachusetts. It is still too early to know when we will be able to resume any of our activities. We will keep posting updates about how things are progressing. If you would like to receive email updates, please contact us here: CONTACT US

Sa Bu Nim has now written 83,000 Poems

83,000 Poems!
Though 2020 was a challenging year, remarkable things still happened. On December 29th, Sa Bu Nim wrote his 83,000th poem.
Sa Bu Nim teaches us through his actions the importance for all of us to keep focused on our goals.
As 2021 begins during the ongoing COVID pandemic and civil discord in our country, it is important to continue to take time to focus on why we train Shim Gum Do:
For a clear mind, clear thinking and clear action.

Happy New Year 2021!

Happy New Year 2021

Happy New Year 2021!

Let us all pray for a great healthy New Year that will bring great changes and growth to everyone on our planet.

Congratulations to Sa Bu Nim for 28 Years!

Congratulations Sa Bu NimToday, December 27, 2020 Sa Bu Nim reached the milestone of training Shim Gum Do every day for 28 years:
You are the great bright star.
Your Mind Sword Enlightenment brought Shim Gum Do to our planet.
Your energy is so clear and straight, you point the way
with a bright lantern for us today and for those in the future.
You are a great teacher.
You demonstrate to us clear mind, clear thinking and clear action,
which are the most important in the sky and earth.
Congratulations on completing
28 years of your retreat of training Shim Gum Do every day.

 

Shim Gum Do Temple Temporarily Closed Again


Shim Gum Do Classes are Temporarily Cancelled Again

As the COVID cases continue to rise in Boston and across the United States, Shim Gum Do classes and other end of the year temple activities are cancelled. Keeping the temple safe and healthy is our main concern during this time.

We are planning a virtual New Year Ceremony.  Stay tuned for updates here and on our social media platforms.

Dae Seon Sa Nim

 

Dae Seon Sa Nim

Sa Bu Nim’s teacher, Great Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee – passed away on November 30, 2004.

Today we remember Dae Seon Sa Nim on the 16th anniversary of his funeral.

Sa Bu Nim wrote a memorial to his teacher on hearing of his passing:
Memorial to Great Zen Master Seung Sahn

December 4th and January 1st Dharma Talk Cancellations

 

December 4th and January 1st Dharma Talk Cancellations

Given the continued increasing numbers of COVID cases and deaths we are cancelling our free Friday Meditation and Dharma talks sessions scheduled for December 4th and January 1st. The health and safety of our Temple continues to be our priority. We encourage all of our followers to continue to follow the health and safety guidelines during these difficult times.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving
We are thankful to have all of you in our Shim Gum Do community. This has been an incredibly challenging year that has tested all of us in many ways. We urge everyone to persevere, with extra vigilance, to following the recommended practices for safety and health during Thanksgiving and throughout the upcoming holiday season.

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim and Chong Kwan Jang Nim

November 6th Dharma Talk Cancelled

November 6th Dharma Talk Cancelled

Health and safety continues to be our priority at Shim Gwang Sa Temple. With Covid cases on the rise here in Boston, the US and other parts of the world, we are continuing to keep health and safety our priority for all of our Shim Gum Do members, residents and guests.

Our first Friday free monthly meditation and Dharma Talk sessions continue to be cancelled at this time. We thank everyone for your patience and support during these very tough times.

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim and Chong Kwan Jang Nim

Free Meditation and Dharma Talk Still Cancelled

First Friday Mediation and Dharma Talk Still Cancelled

We have members who are at high risk to serious complications if exposed to COVID so safety and health continue to be our number one focus for all of our Shim Gum Do members and residents.

Our first Friday free monthly meditation and Dharma Talk sessions continue to be cancelled at this time. We thank everyone for your support during these difficult times.

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim and Chong Kwan Jang Nim

Shim Gum Do Classes Resume with Restrictions

Shim Gum Do classes have resumed at Shim Gwang Sa. We have members who are at high risk to serious complications if exposed to COVID so safety and health continue to be our

number one focus for all of our Shim Gum Do members and residents.

It has been a tough year for all of us within our community, in our country and throughout the world. It is time for all of us to practice together again. In order to continue to be able to keep having classes we have to be careful to preserve the temple’s safety and peace. We ask all Shim Gum Do members returning to class to follow our COVID restriction guidelines. We require masks to be worn at all times and social distancing to be observed. Guidelines for modifications to support safety during class are posted throughout the temple. We need to work together, unified in protecting each other and our sanctuary.

We are accepting new students at this time by appointment only: MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

We thank everyone for supporting this mission during this time.

Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim and Chong Kwan Jang Nim

Another Milestone – 80,000 Poems!

Another Milestone – 80,000 Poems!

On July 20th, Sa Bu Nim wrote his 80,000th poem. It is encouraging to hear that milestones can still be reached during difficult times. Sa Bu Nim’s message has always been to: “believe in yourself, cut thinking and only go straight.” Sa Bu Nim’s accomplishment is a testimony to what can be achieved, even during the current struggle of living during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus Update

Shim Gwang Sa Coronavirus Update

Although new cases of COVID-19 have been declining over the past weeks in Massachusetts, Shim Gwang Sa will continue to be closed for the month of July. Our main concern at this time is to keep Shim Gwang Sa and our members safe and healthy.

If new cases of Coronavirus continue to decline, we hope to be able to resume Shim Gum Do classes – with restrictions – in the beginning of August. We urge everyone to be vigilant with wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing.

Help Support Shim Gum Do

NEW RELEASES

  • New Book Available Now!
    Day and Night:
    Selected Poems from 1990 - 2016

    Other New Books:
    The Nature of Life and Death:
    A Volume of Zen Poetry

    The Sound of Life:
    A Volume of Zen Poetry
  • Sa Bu Nim's award winning poetry book:
    Great Nature: Poems for All of Nature
    2014 Recipient of International PEN Korean Center's Special Literature Award
    • 'The First Star Black Belt Forms of Shim Gum Do Zen Sword
    The Manual of Course Material from White to First Star Black Belt'
    Please enter Books section for more information.

    Calendar

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    Contact Us

    World Shim Gum Do Association, Inc.
    American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association, Inc.

    203 Chestnut Hill Avenue
    Boston, Massachusetts 02135 USA
    Telephone: (617) 787-1506
    Fax: (617) 787-2708
    Contact Form

    Map

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