The Venerable Shim Bo (Sacred Heart) 심보스님  Venerable Shim Bo is a Zen Buddhist Monk-Priest who serves as the Abbot and Spiritual Director of White Lotus Haven Zen of Connecticut, Inc. (WLHZ). In this role, he provides Zen Buddhist teachings and practices that include; meditation and chanting instruction, sutra study, spiritual guidance and support, and officiates Zen Buddhist services. Venerable Shim Bo directs the development and cultivation of the WLHZ sangha and programs and serves as the primary representative to the community at large.

Venerable Shim Bo is a fully trained and sanctioned spiritual director. Since 2002 he has been providing spiritual companionship and guidance to a diverse group of people with varied backgrounds. He has nearly two decades of experience in Buddhist teachings and practices. He made his solemn profession as Bhikkhu (비구) in The United Buddhist Church (UBC) and Il Bung Zen Order presided over by The Most Venerable Dr. Sunyananda Dharma. Venerable Shim Bo is a fully professed and authorized teacher, holding Inka, (teaching authority) in the Korean Il Bung Zen Order 일붕선정 and Vietnamese Lâm Tế Thiền Order, with the dharma name, Thích Tâm Bồ.

In addition, Venerable Shim Bo serves as a Buddhist Chaplain at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, a Zen Buddhist Leader at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and a Dharma Mentor/Teacher in the Buddhist Association of the United States (BAUS) Prisoner Correspondence Course, whose mission is to familiarize inmates with Buddhist teachings and provide practice guidance needed to cultivate liberation of mind and heart from suffering. He also supports Buddhist Global Relief a non-profit organization combating chronic hunger and malnutrition by providing direct food aid to those in need, supporting sustainable food production and management, and promoting the education of girls and women.

 

“Honoring and continuing in the pedagogy of Seon-Kyo (zen meditation/contemplation + sutra study), advanced by His Holiness Dr. Kyung Bo Seo (Il Bung), White Lotus Haven Zen of Connecticut offers students a well-grounded introduction to Buddhist teachings, clear training, and guidance in the disciplines of zen meditation and practice in an active and sincere community of practice.” ~ Venerable Shim Bo