‘Myom’s Biography’ Paints a Picture of ‘Clear Poverty’ in Korean Buddhism
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The new 630+ page biography 'Myom' (묘엄) traces the life and practice of Myom Sunim (1932–2011), a leading Korean Buddhist nun who helped build the modern nuns’ order (비구니). Daughter of the famous Cheongdam Sunim, Myom left school after elementary grade to ordain and trained with top masters in meditation (참선), monastic discipline (율), and scripture. The book chronicles temple life from before liberation through the mid-20th century reform movements and the growth of nun education at places like Bonyeongsa. A recurring theme is austere, humble living—what the author calls “clear poverty”—illustrated by practices such as bringing one’s own provisions (자비량), receiving food or teaching fees as rice, mendicant offerings (탁발), and strict thrift in daily life. Anecdotes show how even senior teachers wore patched robes or used their own clothes as burial shrouds, echoing later minimalism advocated by figures like Beopjeong Sunim. Written with rich archival research and field visits, the biography is both reverent and readable, edited with contributions from Myom’s disciples.
