Where did you grow up? In the Koreatown, Hollywood, and North Hollywood districts of Los Angeles, California.
Is your family Buddhist? No.
What’s your favorite breakfast on retreat? Egg hoppers.
What’s your daily practice? Metta [lovingkindness] in action, satipatthana [mindful awareness] on the cushion.
Favorite aphorism? From my mother: “Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres.” (“Tell me with whom you go about, and I’ll tell you who you are.”)
Favorite musician? Julieta Venegas.
What’s the longest you’ve gone without meditating? How do you get back on track? Three or four days. To get back on track, as a monk I just have to show up to morning meditation, which doesn’t take much effort!
Book on your nightstand? How the Mind Changed: A Human History of Our Evolving Brain by Joseph Jebelli.
What do you like to do in your free time? Read nonfiction books and listen to science and philosophy podcasts. Also, eat tacos and drink coffee.
Who is your teacher? The late Dr. Bhante Punnaji.
What non-Buddhist do you look to for guidance? [The Slovenian philosopher] Slavoj Žižek.
Coffee or tea? Cold brew coffee.
What was your first job? Working at a petting zoo in Northridge, California.
Most used emoji? 🤭
What would you do if you weren’t a Buddhist teacher? I probably would have stayed in the Air Force and/or taught martial arts.
♦
In November, watch Bhante Sanathavihari’s Dharma Talk series on understanding right effort at tricycle.org/dharmatalks.
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