An American monk in Korea

The world of Buddhism was transmitted to an enormous audience on Thursday, September 15,1988. The Today Show, in Korea to cover the Olympics, did a series of background stories on Korea's culture and politics. They were alerted to an American monk, Mu Ryang Sunim (Erik Berall), who was famous for his walks around the country visiting temples, and for his rapid adaption to the Korean language and customs. Mu Ryang Sunim is a long-time student of Zen Master Seung Sahn. He took monk precepts in 1983. Since 1985 he has been in Korea, primarily in a hermitage above Su Dok Sah Temple. Su Dok Sah and its hermitages above it are strongly connected with Zen Master Seung Sahn and the teachers in his lineage. He considers it a prime "energy point" for Kwan Um Zen School. Mu Ryang Sunim was also the subject of an article in Korea Today - A Monthly Photo Journal in May, 1988. The article was entitled Learning About Korea: Mu Ryang Sunim, an American practicing Zen Buddhism. The accompanying photos are from this article. he following is a translation of the Korea Today story interspersed with relevent quotes from Mu Ryang Sunim's appearance on the Today Sho