Pomnyun

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (Korean: 법륜스님, Hanja: 法輪; born 11 April 1953) is a Korean Seon master, author, and activist. He is widely recognized in South Korea as the founder of the Jungto Society, a wise mentor, and one of the most respected Buddhist figures in recent history. Internationally, he is known as a peace activist and one of the four patrons of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) alongside the Dalai Lama, Ven. Maha Somchai Kusalacitto, and Ven. Bhikshuni Chao Hwei.

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s vision of engaged Buddhism is centered around Jungto Society, a community of practitioners he founded in 1988 to overcome what he saw as shortcomings in the existing Buddhist order in South Korea. Since its inception, the volunteer-run community has founded four subsidiary NGOs – EcoBuddha for addressing environmental issues, Join Together Society for rendering aid in developing nations, the Peace Foundation for researching and promoting peace in the Korean peninsula, and Good Friends for protecting the rights of refugees in Asia – to reach their goal of creating Jungto, a land where individuals are happy, society is peaceful, and the environment is beautiful. Venerable Pomnyun Sunim has received various awards and recognitions for his efforts in driving these projects. Notably, in 2002, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding "for his compassionate attention to the human cost of Korea's bitter division and his hopeful appeal for reconciliation." And in 2020, he became the 37th recipient of the Niwano Peace Prize “in recognition of his extraordinary humanitarian work, environmental and social activism, and his inspiring effort to build relationships of trust and goodwill between those of different faiths and cultures as a central component of his work for peace.”