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 that include; meditation instruction, sutra study, spiritual guidance, and support, chanting instruction, and zen liturgy for individuals and groups. Venerable Shim Bo directs the development and cultivation of ongoing WLHZ programming and is the Sangha representative to Buddhist-specific associations and the community at large.
Venerable Shim Bo is a fully trained and sanctioned spiritual director who has been providing individuals spiritual guidance and support since 2002. He has over fifteen years of experience in Buddhist studies and practices,
including traditional Korean liturgical forms. He made his solemn profession as Bhikkhu (비구) in The United Buddhist Church (UBC) and Il Bung Zen Order presided by The Most Venerable Dr. Sunyananda Dharma. Venerable Shim Bo is a fully professed and sanctioned teacher — receiving Inka, (teaching authority) in the Korean Il Bung Zen Order 일붕선정 and Vietnamese Lâm Tế Thiền Order (name, Thích Tâm Bồ).
In addition, Venerable Shim Bo serves as Buddhist Chaplain at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and is a Dharma Mentor/Teacher with the Buddhist Association of the United States (BAUS) Prisoner Correspondence Course, whose mission is to familiarize, guide, and support learners with Buddhist teachings, theory and practice, helping them integrate Buddhism into everyday life. He also volunteers with Buddhist Global Relief a non-profit organization combating chronic hunger and malnutrition by providing direct food aid to those in need, helping develop better long-term methods of sustainable food production and management, promoting the education of girls and women, and providing them opportunities to start “right livelihood” projects to support their families.
“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