Sunday Dharma Talk by Wollyok at the Toronto Zen Buddhist Temple (May 25 2025)

In this reflective Sunday Dharma talk, Wollyok shares his eclectic journey through Buddhist practice, emphasizing the fluidity and personal nature of spiritual path. Drawing from Zen, Theravada, and Vajrayana traditions, he recounts how his life was transformed by meeting his wife Colleen, who introduced him to the Zen Buddhist temple and the influential Zen master Samu Sunim. After Sunim's passing, Wollyok returned to the temple in 2022 and was encouraged by Sangha to give a talk—his first in years. He reflects on the profound impact of his wife Pata’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, reframing her illness not as punishment but as a karmic teaching that has deepened his compassion and opened his heart. He shares vivid memories of Sunim’s leadership, including a spontaneous kitchen crisis during a vegetarian feast, and highlights the universal presence of Dharma in everyday moments. Closing with the Metta Sutta, he affirms that true Buddhism transcends labels—there is no 'Zen Buddhist,' only 'Buddhist,' and the teachings are found in every moment of life.