People often assume that they need to work harder to make their mind feel at ease. They also tend to believe that stillness only arrives once they meditate longer and become a better person. The Zokchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism quietly overturns this familiar idea. It says that the mind is already inherently clear, open, and awake—that this fact is simply hidden for a moment beneath clouds of thoughts and emotions, so we fail to recognize it.
Kenpo Yeshe, a Zokchen master who has passed down that teaching for many years, is coming to South Korea this September. Industry reports say the visit was announced after Yujeongeun Lee, CEO of the domestic mindfulness meditation app Mavo (Mavo Keeper), introduced him as the teacher who showed him the true nature of the mind. Kenpo Yeshe will share the teaching in three formats as he moves between Seoul, Ilsan, and Daegu: an evening lecture each day, a weekend dharma gathering, and several days of intensive retreat.
Zokchen: A Mind That Already Shines Within Us
In Korean, Zokchen means “Great Perfection.” It may sound unfamiliar, but what it points to is nothing other than the true nature of our own mind. In the Zokchen tradition, practice is not about gaining something new. It is closer to recognizing again the clear mind that was already there from the start. During this visit, Kenpo Yeshe plans to strip away difficult terminology and explain this story in a warm way. Whether you are a longtime practitioner or you visit out of curiosity, you can take part. No prior knowledge of Buddhism is required.
Three Sessions in Seoul, Ilsan, and Daegu
The first session is an evening public lecture titled “Finding a Radiant Mind” in Seoul on Sept. 3. Kenpo Yeshe will introduce the true nature of mind—radiant from within—using comfortable, accessible language. It is set up as an introductory opportunity for those new to meditation to attend without 부담.
The second is a weekend dharma gathering, “Three Key Lines That Hit the Heart,” held in Ilsan on Sept. 5 and 6 over two days. It covers the final teachings left to his students by Garab Dorje, widely known as the founder of Zokchen practice. In just three short and solid “lines,” the teachings contain how to recognize the true nature of the mind, how to continue from that recognition, and how to gain unshakable confidence along the way. Kenpo Yeshe unpacks the words at eye level—words that have opened countless practitioners’ minds for more than a thousand years.
The third is a five-day intensive retreat, “The Key to Liberation Without Striving,” at Seokguram Cave Temple on Mt. Palgongsan in Daegu from Sept. 9 to 13. It is a time to put daily life aside for a while and fully sink into practice. It is based on a work left by a Tibetan master from the 14th century. Over several days, participants will slowly come to meet the teaching that the mind is inherently clear and free, even if you do not try to force or change anything.
Kenpo Yeshe: A Teacher Who Holds Both Tradition and Modern Scholarship
Kenpo Yeshe was born in 1969 in the eastern Tibetan region of Nakchu. From childhood, he put his mind into Buddhism. Around the age of 20, he left Tibet and crossed into North India, where he studied and practiced for years at temples representing various traditions. In 1993, he joined a three-year intensive retreat in Nepal under the guidance of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a Zokchen master representative of the 20th century. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche is also well known as the father of Mingyur Rinpoche.
What stands out in his background is that he is both a traditional practitioner and someone deeply immersed in the world of modern scholarship. He earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University’s research center for Buddhist studies. The title “Kenpo” is a name given to those who have completed long study and practice across the board. It can be understood as a position corresponding to today’s PhD and professor. In other words, he is an uncommon teacher who carries ancient wisdom along with today’s language.
Participants can choose the three sessions depending on their interests and circumstances. Refer to the detailed schedule and locations below.
Kenpo Yeshe Korea Visit Program Information
Program | Date and time | Location | Participation fee / registration |
|---|---|---|---|
Finding a Radiant Mind | Evening of Sept. 3 (Thu), 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | JustBe Hongdae Meditation Center (Seoul) | 30,000 won / Register |
Weekend Dharma Gathering “Three Key Lines That Hit the Heart” | Sept. 5 (Sat) to 6 (Sun), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sechzen Big Mind Meditation Center (Ilsan) | General 150,000 won / Sechzen and Mavo members 120,000 won / Register |
Intensive Retreat “The Key to Liberation Without Striving” | Sept. 9 (Wed) afternoon 3 p.m. to Sept. 13 (Sun) noon 12 p.m. | Seokguram Cave Temple on Mt. Palgongsan (Daegu) General members 510,000 won / Sechzen and Mavo sponsoring members | 460,000 won / Clergy and caregivers 340,000 won / Register |