Myeong-seong Seunim

Bhikkhuni Dr. Myeong Seong has been an inspiration to Korean nuns and lay women Buddhists since her ordination in 1952. With a conviction that only good education and training of nuns can bring about a thriving happy Sangha, she has been teaching nuns since 1958 when she received a teaching transmission from Sungneung Sunim at Seonamsa. As her professorship approaches almost half a century, she enjoys teaching novice nuns more than ever even though her responsibility as the Dean of Unmun Sangha College & Unmun Sangha Graduate School demands much of her time and efforts.

Her M.A. and Ph.D., which she received from Dongguk University, concern research on the Alaya consciousness and six sense fields.

Since the establishment of the National Bhiksuni Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in 1985 Bhikkhuni Dr. Myeong Seong has been involved assuming various positions and responsibilities. These culminated in 2004 when she greeted over 1000 Buddhist women from all over the world as the Chairwoman of the Organizing Committee for the 8th Sakyadhita Conference held in Seoul, Korea. At present she is serving her third term as the president of the National Bhikkhuni Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. She has also contributed to the succession of the Bhikkhuni lineage by serving as a confessor, ordination catechist and preceptor at ordination ceremonies for nuns in Korea. Since 1974 she has contributed to Korean Buddhism by serving for 5 terms as a congresswoman of the Central Religious Congress of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

In 1993 she participated in the Parliament of World Religions held in Chicago, USA. In 1995 she visited Thailand and Cambodia to help international refugees. She presented keynote speeches at the United Nation’s Vesak Day International Buddhist Conference in 2006, the 9th Shakyadhita International Conference in 2006, and the 1st International Congress on Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha in 2007.

In 2001 Bhikkhuni Dr. Myeong Seong received the Sasana Kirthi Sri Award at the International Sarvodaya Bhikkhu Congress in Sri Lanka. She has also received awards from the Department for the Propagation of Buddhism of the Jogye Order as well as from the Minster of the Environment of the Korean government for her outstanding individual contributions. Her calligraphy work have been recognized through many exhibitions and competitions.