#10

10. People who kindled the fire – Three families’ torchlight

For the official center to be opened like this was due to three people who were like the torchlight.  No matter who says anything, that first person is Byum Woon Lee and his wife.  Because, with their far reaching great force, they invited us and allowed us to use the small space in his office; therefore we were able to begin.  Both the businessman and his wife were truly generous and warm-hearted people.  Despite our immature ways, I cannot forget how they looked after us without saying anything.  Seventeen years later, thinking about it now, I am ashamed and regretful of so many immature ways we acted.  Never will I forget; and I give my gratitude.
Secondly, is Han Gu Ryu, acting Jiwonjangnim, and his wife.  He enrolled as the first training member, and in order to find a new space, he searched and under his name he drew up a contract.  To trust a stranger to do all that, must not have been an easy thing to do.  Additionally, he found and finalized the contract for one bedroom with living room in a senior apartment for me to live in, and he provided a bed, bedding, and a few housewares.  He provided a temporary place for me to live in; and to see if there was anything that was inconvenient, he visited frequently and cared for me. It was a convenient place for me, without having a car.   
When due to overworking I became ill., when I collapsed he took me over to his home, and for three days and nights, his wife warmly cared for me, which is also something that I cannot forget.
Lastly, there is Won Yong Park, general affairs manager, and his wife.  He thoroughly attended to all the great and small matters personally, listened to the members’ many suggestions, consulted with me, and then preceded with the adjustments. There must have been many troubling incidents that arose, but he took care of the matters without any difficulty; and for everyone to get along with each other, as an intermediary he played such a remarkably harmonious role.  Also, when the center training was finished, he always came to the restaurant together with me and bought me dinner, then drove me to my apartment.  After coming from work, even though he must have been very tired, without showing any discontent, he looked after us happily speaking of joyful stories.  Without having a car, lacking spare time and money, I was unable to eat on time, and often missed meals and my health suffered.  For these reasons, his generosity is something that I cannot forget.  He was like a kind and generous uncle from a hometown.
In addition, there is one more person named Bong Joon Kim, the businessman who was in the clothing business.  The business was successful, but it was at a time where it was experiencing difficulties.  Even in the midst of that difficulty, he offered a car.  It was a Buick, as I remember.  It was an old used car that would not start easily and often stopped while I was driving it which caused me some troubling dilemmas.  Still, with the help of this car, I was able to do many things.  Also, I would like to give my gratitude to him.
In addition to them, many members, in large and small ways, took the initiative and gave an example to others, and assisted.  Because they all helped joyfully, Dahnhak exists in America now; and I do not forget that fact.       

#9

9. Playing with fire – Vigorously  burning flame

Now, in order to officially open and to establish with a new meaning of Gae-Chun, grand opening of the new Philadelphia center was set for October 3rd on Gae-Chun Day.  It had been exactly four months since coming to America.  Ilchi Lee, who was in South Korea, was again invited.  Now, as a student, with establishing Dahn centers as an official organization, I had invited him.  I was attending Catholic and Christian churches, and became familiar with the Christian religion.   And so, at the opening ceremony, a priest came and gave his blessing.  The honorary headmaster (Ji Won Jang Nim) was a priest in his former occupation and his wife was also a nun.  For some reason, he had reverted from a clergyman to just a devotee, and became a businessman who was married and was head of a family.  As devout Catholics, both persons must have so very much loved each other.  Maybe, because of that, many things became to be associated in that way.  One day, the honorary headmaster and I went to the Catholic church, but that day was a special day.  After holding the service for a good while, one middle aged American woman was said to have received special grace and a gift from God, and she came to have the ability to chant and read other people.  Just as she passed by, she would give readings for people, and for me she said that I was in depression.  Even I think that it was depression, for it was such a difficult period of time.  Because I didn’t have much money, I was not able to give much but gave about ten dollars for contribution.  When going through struggling with so much hardship, I wished I could have returned back to South Korea.  However, after going through it, it was truly rewarding and joyful.  With the invitation of Ilchi Lee and two masters were chosen and came.  Both persons cases were such that they were from America(Yong Soo Moon) and from Canada(Hyun Mook Choi) who immigrated with their families and then went to South Korea to train, and became masters.  However, since they returned to South Korea before adjusting to immigrating, it was a situation where their English was yet not fluent.  In this case, they were neither Korean nor American, but are in a place where they have half aspects of both sides.  It is a unique situation that occurs only in those generations that immigrate.  They have come to be in an unclear and indistinct state where they are neither completely used to the Korean or American culture.  Although, thinking about it now, they quietly and steadily, indeed, did very well.  It is because everyone worked with a sense of having a mission, and tightly came together and worked well.  Even though we were separated by distance, once in a while I would go to Los Angeles to give special lectures and also managed, and took care of the center.  It was not possible to go often, but through phone calls and letters, we stayed in contact.  Now, with two places on the east coast, Philadelphia, and one place on the west coast, Los Aneles, and on the complete opposite sides, three places had been created.

#8

8. Burning firewood   – Settling period (Part 2)

In the beginning, the membership fee was $200.  It was because I didn’t have any money. The members suggested that the membership fee was too expensive. I asked for their understanding. And, when it became over 100 members, I promised to lower the fee to $100 and to return the remaining amount.  After about six months, over 100 members gathered.  And that promise was kept.  Even though I returned the money, no one accepted it back.  They simply wanted that amount to be used in paying for the next month’s membership fee, or to introduce other people.  Also, as funds for the center’s expansion, they made donations.  I felt truly grateful.  Like this, members increased, and people from long distances of two to three hours came.  Again, the space was limited, and members who came from far away felt a lot of inconvenience.  So, I searched and found another Tae Kwon Do training place and decided to use it as a timeshare.  In addition, masters were to come and go alternating back and forth.  Now, in Philadelphia two centers were opened. From Los Angeles, there were endless requests for more space. While the center location was being searched for, a contact came that there was a space available next to a restaurant, and I decided to draw up a contract.  Now, it was a situation where there was a shortage of masters.  I made a request in South Korea for masters to be sent, and I waited.

#7

7. Burning firewood – Settling period (Part 1)

Ilchi Lee returned to South Korea and I was left alone.  I came without thinking that I would be staying behind, but suddenly when I was left alone, I felt strange, and a sense of emptiness.  Even though it was a place that was endlessly vast where many people lived, at this time it felt as though I was all alone.  In this unfamiliar foreign country, unable to communicate, and having nothing in my possession, I began to worry as to how to begin.  Initially, for the time being, advertisements were placed intended toward Koreans, and members were gathered.  For newspaper advertisement, since I did not have any money, I made a promise that I would pay when I made the money through gathering members, and advertisements were sparsely placed.  I am truly thankful for the newspapers, journalist, and the person who was in charge of the advertisement, who had faith in me then.  And also, the members vouched for me with lots of their assurance. For that too, I am grateful.  Since arriving in America and in three months of meeting, about sixty people gathered, and now in the businessman’s office, the situation grew to became where it no longer could continue in the limited space.  Naturally, since there was no posted business sign and as for the phone, the businessman’s office phone was being used, it gave a lot of inconvenience to the business. Coming here through personal invitation also had its limitation, which was also a reason to move.  Since it was already in progress, I thought I might as well do it properly.  In order to move the training place to a larger and more spacious place, and while searching for it, I found a Tae Kwon Do training place and decided to use it as a timeshare. I moved there to begin again.  Likewise, it was carpeted and rolled back and forth as if spreading the straw mats.  As the members increased, carpets also little by little increased.  From 4pm to 6pm, Tae Kwon Do training used the place, and other than those hours I used the place.  The rent was $1000 per month.

#6

6. Gathering firewood and building a fire(Part 2) – Pioneering on the West Coast of United States

Even from the opposite west coast of America, Los Angeles, contacted us.  Among the people who participated in the open public lecture, there even was a person who came as far as Los Angeles.  Newspapers contacted each other, and with the sponsoring from the LA Korean Daily News, Radio Korea, Korea Seoul, etc., and other press, an open public lecture took place and approximately 300 people gathered.  Many participants left with the experience of feeling Chun-ji-ki-un; and again, numerous telephone inquiries came.  After the open public lecture, a person who owned a restaurant, arranged a small space next to the restaurant, and it was the beginning.  Here, also, was a space that completely filled, when about ten people standing up trained.  Of course, we had to pay for the rent.  Even though it was just an empty space and a space that was just carpeted only, the fact that it was the beginning was important.  From Ilchi Lee’s one visit, through the open public lecture, and many individual private meetings and group meetings, etc., these historic moments had been created.  Because of the blessings of Chun-ji-ki-un, this pioneering period was overwhelmingly successful. I was deeply touched by how easily everything flowed due to the grace, power, and divine inspiration  of Chun–ji-ki-un.  Now, masters were needed to work in the divided east and west coasts.   There was a young master, Hyun-Mook Choi, who had immigrated to Canada together with his family and was now back in South Korea. He returned to South Korea to study fine art, and subsequently became a Dahn Master. He was asked to come to Los Angeles to manage the first western United States Dahn Center. Although it was very small, it was a great inspiration.  He was a master, who sketched many illustrations for books such as Eternal Life of Ki, other Dahnhak books, magazines, and training related pictures.

#5

5. Gathering firewood and building a fire – Pioneering on the East Coast of United States

After the open public lecture, beginning the next day, endless telephone inquiries came regarding when the training facility would be opened.  Even the businessman, who had invited us, said that he did not know that there would be such positive and numerous responses. He felt greatly rewarded and happy.  Because of the unexpected positive and huge response, he was surprised.  Even though he had invited many religious dignitaries previously, there were always limitations to the subject of religion and he had only had limited responses.  Thus, he had hoped for contents like this, which anyone inevitably can appreciate, and also the fact that because the contents were not religious in nature, all people could attend without prejudice.  Thereafter, from being on the radio broadcasting station, from other newspaper interviews, and from individual private meetings, many different busy days were spent.  While spending busy days like this, I noticed already a month had passed.
Now, due to many people’s passionate responses and requests, a circumstance arose where a center had to be opened.  While worrying where to set up, without money, or a car, or the time, and after all, since we had to travel to and from work in the businessman’s car with his wife, and since the second floor of the businessman’s office was vacant and inside there was a small partitioning screen, we received permission to use it as a temporary training facility.  First of all, in a rush, carpet was purchased and it was placed as if spreading straw mats; and we decided to begin.  It was such a small space that it was completely filled when about six people trained standing up.

#4

4. Igniting the kindling – Open public lecture in America

Through this and that, advertisements in newspapers and radio broadcasting, from word of mouth, the open public lectures had become known, and among the Korean community it became a huge happening.  All these things were well prepared promptly and swiftly by the businessman.  As an influential person in Philadelphia, he fully demonstrated his influential power.  I realized that, as the most influential and successful businessman in Philadelphia, and in addition, as a person who has made many various contributions to the Korean residents, he had made a definite place in the community.  To have met a person like him was truly fortunate.  Over and over again and forever, I would like to give him my gratitude.  Finally, the first open public lecture took place in America.  It took place in the largest Korean restaurant in Philadelphia, which was rented out entirely, and approximately two hundred people came and completely filled up the space.  People also watched through the television from outside.  A newspaper reporter conducted the event.  Dahnhak video was also shown, and I showed demonstrations as well.  While Ilchi Lee was giving lecture(Kang-Chun), he taught about energy(Ki), and also gave them training.  Many people had a deep interest and returned with anticipation for a training facility to be established.  Of course, all the contact information was received.

#3

3. Transporting of the kindling – Pioneer journey departs to Philadelphia in America

On May 29th 1991, accompanying Ilchi Lee (Dae Sun Sa), from Kim-po airport in Seoul, South Korea(in the past, In-chon airport did not exist) we took Korean Air and departed to America.  After 15 hours of long flight, we had arrived on the opposite side of earth, at Philadelphia airport.  We found our luggage and when we came out after completing the process for entry into the country, Bum Woon Lee, the businessman who had invited us, together with a few other people came out to meet us.  They filmed our entrance scene with a videotape and welcomed us.  Still, the fact that we knew someone there was truly a source of relief and comfort.  Straightaway, we went to his home and had dinner that was prepared by his wife.  When the news that a venerable guest from South Korea had come, many Koreans gathered around with warm greetings, and Ilchi Lee gave a lecture(Kang-Chun).  People returned and it became quiet, and to rest the tired body, we slept.
Beginning the next day, we went to the businessman’s office together and discussed the following schedule.  First, we placed advertisements for the public opening lecture in the newspapers and radio broadcasting, made preparations for the event, and in the evening many people gathered in the businessman’s home and received Kang-Chun and training from Ilchi Lee.  Little by little, many people gathered and even people from long distances of two to three hours came to visit.

#2

2. Preparation to bring the kindling – Preparation to depart

After Ilchi Lee (Dae Sun Sa) received the invitation and the air tickets, he said to prepare to go to America.  For me, as for traveling abroad it was the first time in my life. My English was poor, and I worried, deep within me, how I would be able to assist Ilchi Lee there.  Nevertheless, there was anyone who knew English adequately, and preparation was made thinking that there wasn’t any other way but just to face it.  As for preparation, there were only a few pieces of clothing, Dahnhak books, a video of Dahnhak training, etc.; it was just lots of Dahnkak related items.  For funds, when told people I was going to America, a member who was training gave me a one-hundred dollar bill to use for traveling expenses, which was all there was.  Without knowing how much a one-hundred dollar bill was worth, and not realizing that dollars are used in America, preparing for traveling expenses wasn’t even thought of.  Though, even if I wanted to prepare expenses, there weren’t any funds to bring.
A suitcase with an invitation, air tickets, and few pieces of clothing were, indeed, all there was.  Thinking about it now, a pioneering journey without much plan, had begun.  At last, in order to go, I was told a visa must be obtained, but I didn’t know what a visa was or from where to receive it. Everything was unaccustomed and unfamiliar.  I had to go to the embassy and also have an interview.  Papers were prepared and I waited on a long line for half of the day.  Since it was at a time, where traveling to foreign countries was not as freely permitted, it was somewhat strict.  Fortunately, a Korean resident who was living in America, introduced a travel agency that he knew well, and without any mishap we passed.  Actually, to be abruptly going to America without any preparation felt a little fearful and exciting.  And, I could not believe the fact that I would be going to America.  It was because, for my whole life, I thought that there wouldn’t be any reason for me to go to America.  In any case, all preparation was completed and the only thing left was to depart on that day.

#1

1. Kindling – Inevitable Coincidence

The pioneering history in America became truly an inevitable coincidence and the beginning.  It was at a time where Dahnhak, in South Korea, was in the midst of ardent pioneering and was experiencing tremendous growth.
Someone who lives in Philadelphia and operated a clothing business, had come to Jaam-shil center in South Korea.  He was, with grizzled hair, in the middle of his fifties.
The reason why he had come to Jaam-shil center in his home country, South Korea, was to treat a chronic disease of accumulated fatigue and exhaustion from the long period of living and having a business overseas.
While treating for the chronic disease, there was a mention that training at a Dahn center would be beneficial for him, so through receiving training and meeting with Ilchi Lee, enormous healing occurred.  Even though it was not a medical treatment, the fact that the disease could be healed so easily like that, was a great shock to him. 
Even what the advanced medicine in America could not do anything about, through the Ki training he found a very simple way to solve the matter.  It is not certain, but it was probably problems in the stomach and the kidney area.
With approximately one week of treatment period, and with much recovery he returned to America and again while working diligently on his business, he invited Ilchi Lee and myself to visit.
Already as he was a practitioner of Buddhism, he had made great contributions in the building of Buddhist temples, he often invited religious dignitaries from South Korea and Tibet, and he listened to their Buddhist teachings.  Also from his company, as a policy, a set percentage of his earnings was used for these works.