Profile
Shim Gwang Sa, the Mind Light Temple, is home to American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association.
The Art of Shim Gum Do
We are dedicated to teaching and preserving the Zen art of Shim Gum Do, the Mind Sword Path, which is an original Zen art that integrates the practice and principles of Zen Buddhist meditation with the action meditation of martial art practice.
Shim Gum Do is composed of forms in six parts:
- Zen Sword
- Shin Boep (Body Dharma)
- Ho Shin Sul (Self Defense)
- Long Stick
- Two Sword
- Short Stick.
The practice of Shim Gum Do brings the mind and body together to develop a clear mind, clear thinking and clear action.
History of the Practice
Shim Gum Do founding master, Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim, currently lives and teaches at Shim Gwang Sa. The temple offers ongoing daily classes in Shim Gum Do:
- Monday through Thursday: 6 – 7 PM & 7 – 8 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM
- Meditation and Dharma Talk on the First Friday of each month: 5:45 – 7:30 PM
The temple also has as a residential training program for those interested in pursuing a deeper practice of Shim Gum Do. Additionally, a meditation session and Dharma talk (free and open to the public) is offered on the first Friday of each month. For more information on our class schedule and upcoming events visit shimgumdo.org
About Zen Master Kim
Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim began formal Zen training at the Hwa Gye Sa Temple in Seoul, Korea at a young age. He studied under the tutelage of Great Zen Master Seung Sahn Lee, who later founded the Kwan Um School of Zen, an international organization of Zen centers and groups.
When he was 21 years old, Zen Master Kim embarked upon a 100-day meditation retreat on Sam Gak Mountain in Seoul, Korea to attempt to achieve enlightenment. During this retreat, Shim Gum Do was revealed to Zen Master Kim through his meditation and he attained Mind Sword enlightenment.
Zen Master Kim has been teaching Shim Gum Do for more than 50 years. He has lectured at Harvard University, Brown University, MIT, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern University and Yale University. In addition, he is an accomplished poet and calligraphy artist. He is the author of two books on Shim Gum Do and eighteen poetry books that have been translated into six languages.
