Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님), has announced that its popular online Buddhist study and practice course, Jungto Dharma School, will return in March, with online registration now open to new students.
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, first opened Jungto Dharma School some 31 years ago in Korea as way to share the original teachings of the Buddha with lay practitioners. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jungto Society created an online English-language syllabus—Jungto Dharma School: Introduction to Buddhism I—which is available to students of Buddhism all over the world.
“Under the guidance of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, you will learn how the mind works and experience changes in your perspective on life,” Jungto Society shared with BDG. “As a student of Jungto Dharma School, you will not only study Buddhist doctrines (the Buddha’s core teachings) but also gain practical wisdom to help you resolve various problems in your life. Additionally, you will practice applying the teachings to your daily life.”
Jungto Dharma School’s self-paced 20-week program includes all course materials and online tools, weekly online meetings with group members and facilitators, and live Dharma talks with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. The course content encompasses foundation modules on understanding the Buddha’s core teachings, and approaching key philosophical concepts, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, causality, dependent origination, and enlightenment, and how these concepts and practices can be applied to everyday life.
The spring course is scheduled to begin on 12 March.
“Throughout its 32-year history, Jungto Dharma School has helped countless people transform their lives.,” Jungto Society said. “This 20-week program will help participants learn how to live freer and happier lives in accordance with Buddhist teachings.”
Click here for full details and to register
Past students of Jungto Dharma School shared their impressions of their learning experience and how their lives and personal practices have benefited:
Before taking this course, I started studying Buddhist philosophy on my own to help my career as a therapist and also to help me with my own anxiety about things like death and success. This course taught me how much more effective it is to actually practice Buddhist principles consistently with a group of other curious and dedicated individuals compared to just reading. I learned that even without understanding Buddhist philosophy very well, you can calm your anxiety a lot with these timeless practices. — Gordon
Through the Jungto Buddhism Dharma course, I learned about concepts like the middle way, interdependence, karma, and enlightenment. I’ve heard these words used before and I may have used them without fully understanding what they mean. Being in this class helped me have an understanding of what they mean because Sunim explains complex terms in a simple, straightforward style for everyone to understand. The volunteers were inspirational in their dedication and devotion to being available to us and helping along the way. My classmates and their sharing influenced me to understand other perspectives. — Ruha
“The Buddhist teachings must be practiced, not just learned,” said Ven. Pomnyun Sunim “The main purpose of Jungto Dharma School is to understand how negative feelings and states of mind are manifested in our daily life, and then to experience how these negative psychological states can be transformed into positive ones. The most important thing is that you should experience and practice this path for yourself.”
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a widely revered Korean Dharma teacher, author, and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects across the world, among them: JTS Korea, an international humanitarian relief organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger; Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddha’s teachings and dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering; Ecobuddha, an organization focused on environmental ethics and sustainable living based on the teachings of the Buddha; and Good Friends, which promotes reconciliation and cooperation between the North and South Korea, and provides humanitarian aid to North Koreans. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim also works closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).
In October 2020, the Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan presented the 37th Niwano Peace Prize to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in recognition of his international humanitarian work, intensive environmental and social activism, and his tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill between communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.*
* Buddhist Monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)
See more
Pomnyun
Jungto Society
Jungto
Jungto Dharma School
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
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oh! very useful!
Thank you!!
This class changed my life. One does not have to sacrifice themselves for another’s happiness.
You can have an amazing experience of being lighthearted and freeing your life.
This programme is mindful programme and helps me reflect myself and gives me a peaceful mind.
Thank you so much for your wise talks and devotion to the world peace.
Hope you to be happy and be free as I experienced through the Jungto Dharma School. 🙂
Jungto Dharma School is the best school I ever attended!!
Strongly recommend it!
I learned peace of mind through this school.
It is a school that teaches what you really need to learn.
Sure Better than Harbard univ.
Through Jungto Dharma School`s practice exercise, I learned ways to reconcile with my family.
Highly recommended! Buddhist teachings unpacked and made applicable in daily life. The teacher and his teaching style is quite down to earth.
Very practical. It can be applied to daily life.
I took the Jungto Dharma School a couple of years ago. This online course provided a great deal of wisdom and toolkit to practice a sustainable way to live happily and freely.
It was easy to understand and was very fucused in practical Buddhism.
I introduced it to an acquaintance of a college student, and he said it helped to heal and change the hard feelings of school life. I recommend it to everyone.
This course has been a great help to me during challenging times in my life. It’s an excellent course for applying the teachings of Buddha in everyday life.
I took this course years ago when it was offered in Korean. It helped me a lot in my difficult time. I would recommend it to anyone.
Thank you for this useful article about Jungto and Ven.Pomnyn. I’ve watched his youtube video for years.
interesting and want to know about in detail
I took this course a year ago when my chronic depression and anxiety reached it’s peak. It changed my life. I held less resentment towards external influences. I learned how to find peace and happiness from within. This was the best therapy I had.
Great course for everyone! This is an essential course for our happy life. Through the Dharma School I’ve became positive and light. I would like to spread my happiness with more people who are suffering.
I am someone who has experienced Jungto Dharma School. My life has become much lighter
I learned about happiness through Jungto Dharma School. It’s such a good program.
I had a chance to take online Buddhism classes from the Jungto Society during COVID-19 pandemic period. I was able to reflect on myself and my life so far and see roots of sufferings and pains. Thanks to the teaching of Venerable Pomnyun Sunim and the Junto Society, now I am much happier with less suffering and have clearer and better life directions that: I am/want to be helpful, not only to myself but also to others. I am proud of being a piece of this Mosaic Buddha! Do you want to be happier and freer? I highly recommed this Jungto Dharma School with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim!
Thanks a lot for the information.
The perspective I learned here, I apply it daily to my family and at work – and it allows me to stay calm and make better decisions.
Buddhist teaching is not to be learned but to be practiced. Thank you Ven. Pomnyun Sunim!
It’s really nice article. Thanks for sharing this.
Jungto Dharma School was a turning point in my life. I highly recommend to all of you are interest.
I hope more people benefit from the Jungto Dharma course. It’s easy to understand, engaging, and has a supportive community. Studying and practicing Buddhism has been the best thing I’ve done for myself.
I am enjoying very much to meet all my student in the Jungto Dharma School to share their happiness.
Thank you for the information. I will consider signing up.
The course helped me observe myself, others, and the world.
I strong recommand this program.
I wanted to study authentic Buddhist teachings and wisdom of Buddhism. After I took the Jungto Dhalma School, I could manage and reduce my level of stress, anxiety and depression.
I’m really grateful that I was able to take part in this course, it has been very helpful and a great starting point to practice.
You can experience a lighter life
Jungto Dharma school is a good way to start to study Buddhism.
I loved taking this course. So impressed with the teachings and exercises, and all run by volunteers too. Pure hearted and very much about being happy and helping others too.
Thanks for sharing.
I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to find a path to sustainable happiness and freedom.
Great course! Highly recommended and easy to do.
This experience has transformed my outlook on life. I now approach life with a more positive and joyful mindset. My attention is increasingly centered on the present moment, allowing me to be more focused and mindful.
This course has been excellent in teaching me how to live a freer and happier life.
Through Dharma School, I was able to gain great enlightenment and joy in my life. And I am living with a completely different mindset than before experiencing Dharma School. I feel a deep gratitude for life.
Thanks Sunim and JTS. I’m very lucky to know Dharma. I’m 40 and happier than ever. I can feel the life is so beautiful and grateful. I’m sharing this moments with family and friends. Sometimes I can’t but I’m getting better to enjoy my life. I have lots of things to appreciate.
I didn’t expect much initially, but I enjoyed the class tremendously because it addresses my everyday concerns and helps with my anxiety. It made me a happier person!
This is a great class to learn about Buddhism as a practice and meet others who are all working towards sustainable happiness.
I took both Jungto Dharma school courses. The English course was pretty simple to follow and very useful! Grateful that this was featured on this website.
I can’t recommend this course highly enough for anyone wanting to relieve their suffering and find practical ways to attain a peaceful state within and interacting with others!!!