Revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님) recently returned to Bhutan, where he conducted a series of community surveys and social development activities among remote communities, with the aim of improving the quality of life and exploring sustainable development projects that could serve as models for replication around the world.* During his four-day visit from October 28 to 31, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and a team of volunteers from the Buddhist relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) conducted site visits to rural areas to review development projects that included completion ceremonies for two historic water projects for villages experiencing shortages of clean water.
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim’s engagements in Bhutan are implemented by JTS Korea in cooperation with the Royal Family and the Government of Bhutan. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of Engaged Buddhism and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one’s own life. Tasked with bringing hope, empowerment and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is managed and operated by unpaid volunteers, who carry out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters. JTS has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The humanitarian organization has also been granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
After a 25-hour journey from Seoul, including 10 hours of driving on winding mountain roads, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim arrived in Nabji village in Trongsa district, central Bhutan. For the previous two months, the people of Nabji had been busy paving the village roads. The main events of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim’s visit on this occasion were an official ceremony to mark the completion of water pipeline projects in the nearby villages of Rimapong and Rebati.
After another 50 minutes of driving on mountain roads to Rimapong Chiwog in Goshing Gewog**, where about 70 households live, they received a warm welcome from local residents. Sunim met the Zhemgang district governor at the entrance to the village and together they climbed to higher ground, inspected the newly constructed water tank and began the topping-out ceremony.
The village lama offered a blessing prayer, which was followed by a ceremony of gratitude to the Buddha. Then, Sunim offered a blessing prayer before going down to the school building, where about 100 residents of Rimapong village were gathered.
As the villagers and the local school were previously dependent on the same water source, there was a shortage of fresh water. The new water supply project was launched on the proposal of the tshogpa (village chief) to solve the shortage by accessing a newly discovered water source exclusively for the school.
The villagers worked tirelessly for 45 days from early September to mid-October to build a four-kilometer underground pipeline connecting the new water source to the village and to build the new water storage tank. By separating the water supply for the village and the school, the residents were able to ensure a stable supply for the entire village and solve the water shortage.
In front of the assembled villagers, the county chief expressed his gratitude to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: “The problem of water shortage at the school was serious. Sunim visited our village, listened to our situation, and gave us a lot of support. Now that the water problem has been solved, life has become very convenient. We are sincerely grateful.” (Jungto Society)
The county chief then invited Sunim to say a few words.
“All of you residents have worked hard to install a pipeline for water supply,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim observed. “The work was difficult to complete, but now that it is completed, you can use water conveniently and all the past efforts have become memories that will bring you joy every time you use water.”
“Of course, this is the result of JTS’s provision of materials and your own efforts, but water itself originally comes from nature. Therefore, we should recognize the preciousness of nature in providing us with water and other nourishment necessary for our lives, and be grateful for it.
“However, modern people increasingly forget to be grateful to nature. Humanity today is facing climate crises and many disasters due to excessive desires and the resulting development. So, even if there is enough water, we must still use it sparingly and be grateful.
"We were able to carry out this first project in Zhemgang thanks, first of all, to the blessing of the Buddha and the care of the king (of Bhutan). Thanks to this, we can live in peace and do such valuable work. . . .
“You all worked hard. I also wanted to take the time to work with you, but unfortunately I couldn’t. Once again, thank you for your efforts in completing the first project in Zhemgang in such a short time. Today, the commemorative plaque only says “Supported by JTS,” but in the future, please write “Created together by JTS and the villagers.” (Laughter)
“Not only that, but if the people in the village need anything else in the future, JTS will always be willing to work together. If you can cooperate like this time, we will do whatever is necessary together. . .
“JTS follows seven principles that you should now keep in mind: first, we try to spend as little money as possible; second, we try to make it as efficient and useful as possible; third, we involve the participation of as many people as possible; fourth, we try to benefit as many people as possible; fifth, we try to use materials from our region as much as possible; sixth, we try to use the skills of our local people as much as possible; seventh, not only must the result be good, but the process of achieving it must also be joyful and good. (Jungto Society)
After completing the inauguration, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Jungto volunteers proceeded to Rebati Chiwog in Nangla Gewog, where they received another enthusiastic welcome from the grateful community.
The people of Rebati had undertaken a project to build a new water pipeline from a water source seven kilometers from the village. Plumbers and masons from the village had offered their expertise, which saved labor costs. The people also installed 23 intermediate water stations and plan to build five more. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Jungto volunteers arrived at the water station closest to the event venue to begin the completion ceremony.
“You worked extremely hard to lay this pipeline over a distance of seven kilometers,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim remarked to the assembled villagers. “At first, I thought it would not be possible because the distance was too great. I came twice and tried to dissuade you by saying it was too difficult, but you insisted on continuing. In the end, we started and you did a great job! And to complete it in less than two months is truly amazing. . . .
“This is your achievement. If we were to calculate the monetary value of your efforts, you would contribute more than half of it. This is not something that JTS did alone, but something that JTS and the people of Rebati did together. . . .
“When we join hands like this, we can achieve anything. In the future, if the village needs something else, let us work together to achieve it. Many government officials in Bhutan are also working hard to make your life more convenient and happier. However, the national budget is not that abundant. It takes a long time for the benefits to be distributed fairly. So we have to choose between waiting for the benefits to come or doing what we can with our own strength. If you gather your intentions and say that you want to do something like this time, saying, ‘Let’s secure our own drinking water,’ JTS will support you as much as possible.”
“Of course, JTS provided support, but this was accomplished through your efforts. I am more grateful to you than you are to me. It is truly a miracle that you connected a seven-kilometer pipeline in just one month when it is already difficult to manage your own life. In the future, if you gather your strength and say that you want to do something, I will support you in every way possible. Because you have successfully completed this project, I will view any project you propose very positively in the future. Above all, it is very difficult for competent people in the village to give their time and expertise without receiving money. Nowadays, most young people do not want to do this kind of work, so I am deeply grateful that so many young people participated.”
Sunim then held discussions with the district governor on how to proceed with future projects, including conducting household health surveys to provide eye, ear and dental care, paving roads and creating irrigation canals. Sunim also stressed the importance of building comfortable housing for the poor. It was decided that further discussions would take place when Sunim returned to Zhemgang in late December.
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a highly revered Korean professor, author, and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects around the world, including: JTS Korea, an international humanitarian aid organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger; Jungto Society, a volunteer community founded on the teachings of the Buddha and dedicated to solving modern social problems 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 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 tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill among communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.***
* Special Report on Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development in Bhutan (BDG) and Engaged Buddhism Special Report: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Explores Sustainable Development in Three-Day Workshop in Bhutan (BDG)
** A chiwog is an electoral constituency in Bhutan. gewog or village block is a geographical administrative unit formed by a grouping of villages.
*** Buddhist monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim receives the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)
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Connecting a 7km water pipeline in just one month is a miracle (Jungto Company)
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