Chunseong

Lee Chang-rim (; March 30, 1891 – August 22, 1977), also known by his Dharma name Chunseong and the art name Muaedoin , was a Korean Buddhist monk, scholar, poet, writer, and philosopher.

Early life Chunseong was born on March 30, 1891, in Inje County, Kangwon Province, Joseon. He was the fifth son of father Yi Ino , who was a tenant farmer, and mother Lady Pak of Miryang . Chunseong's family line was of the Pyeongchang Lee clan . Although Chunseong's birth name was Lee Chang-rim , his Dharma name was Chunseong . He was often called Chunseong Chunseong (春城 春性).

Early monk life In his early years, Chunseong went to the Baekdamsa , a Buddhist temple in Inje. He begged to be a pupil, but abbess Han Yong-un rejected him because he was too young. Eventually, at age fifteen, he became a Buddhist monk, apprenticing under Han Yong-un.

Chunseong was required to read through Hwaeomgyeong and Geumganggyeong . He studied them so well that he could recite the Hwaeomgyeong backwards. Because of this, he earned the nickname "Hwaeom monk" .

March 1 movement In November 1918, Chunseong's teacher published Yusim (translated as "whole mind"), a series of magazines that written to make Buddhism appeal to the youth. The following year, Yong-un was imprisoned for his involvement with the March 1st Movement. Chunseong remained dutiful to his teacher while he was in prison and was the only head monk who regularly visited and sent over food and supplies. Even though his temple had plenty of firewood, Chunseong refused to use any heat during winter and slept in a freezing cold room: "My teacher is shivering in a cold cell in Seodaemun Prison because he was captured by the Japanese while fighting for independence. So how can I, his disciple, sleep in the comfort of a warm room?"

Satire and humor

My hometown is my mother's vagina Right after the Korean War, it was illegal to cut down trees. Even though it was freezing cold weather, no one could gather firewood to heat themselves, so Chunseong decided to cut down some wood for firewood as well as to make repairs to the dilapidated temple.

Jesus' resurrection One day, after visiting a temple, he was on his way back to Uijeongbu on a bus. On the ride, there was a Christian fanatic who was shouting into a loudspeaker, "Believe in Jesus Christ who died and resurrected! If you believe in Him, you will go to heaven!" This Christian saw that Chunseong was dressed in a monk's robe, and decided to stand in front of him and yell these words.

Chunseong decided to yell back, "What did you say? He died and rose again? The only thing that dies and rises again is my penis every morning!"

The Christian felt awkward and got off on the next station to get away from the situation.

The commander of monks Chunseong enjoyed his fair share of alcoholic drinks and often drank beer and makgeolli (which he referred to as gokcha, or grain drinks).

One night, he had too much to drink and got caught violating curfew hours by a police officer. The police asked "Who are you?" In 2004, South Korean broadcasting programs began to report more of his words and actions.