From Warrior to Monk

Venerable SooSeong, a Bhikkhu (ordained Buddhist monk) from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, brings a unique journey of transformation to his teachings.  Recognized by his Zen Master for his qualifications, he returned to the U.S. to guide and teach others on the path of Zen.

His spiritual intention is to awaken the Buddha within each individual. This intention stems from his own profound journey, which began with a distinguished 20-year career as a U.S. Army officer, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. It was during his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after his service in Afghanistan that Venerable SooSeong discovered the transformative power of meditation in his own healing. He subsequently shared these practices with fellow service members in Iraq, igniting a passion for guiding others toward stress management and inner peace through meditation.

Transitioning from military service, Venerable SooSeong furthered his commitment to serving others as a certified Executive Coach. Utilizing meditation techniques and coaching strategies, he supported high-level executives and successful physicians through challenging environments.

Now a Zen Buddhist monk, Venerable SooSeong offers profound teachings that combine his rich life experiences with the wisdom of the Buddha-Dharma. His guidance goes beyond simply alleviating daily suffering, aiming to awaken individuals to the ultimate peace and joy found through Wisdom and Compassion.

Venerable SooSeong’s dedication to service and learning is further reflected in his educational background, which includes an MHSA (Health Systems Administration) from Georgetown University, an M.S. in Psychology from Capella University, a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and an Executive Coaching Certification from IPEC.​​​

He currently serves as the Buddhist Chaplain at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and also as the guiding meditation teacher for all meditation programs at the Bul Kwang Zen Center in Tappan, NY.