Top 100 Haemin Sunim Quotes (2025 Update)
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51. “What our mind focuses on becomes our world. Seen this way, the mind does not seem so insignificant in relation to the world out there, does it?”

— Haemin Sunim

52. “We can love completely,” he says, “even without complete understanding.”

— Haemin Sunim

53. “When your mind is joyful and compassionate, the world is, too. When your mind is filled with negative thoughts, the world appears negative, too. When you feel overwhelmed and busy, remember that you are not powerless.”

— Haemin Sunim

54. “You sacrificed your life for the sake of your children. But instead of being thankful, your children are angry that they have been living their parents’ dreams rather than their own. Look back and see if you deluded yourself into believing that being obsessed with your children was a sacrifice. And consider whether your “sacrifice” did not rob your children of the opportunity to learn for themselves.”

— Haemin Sunim

55. “Beyond stereotypes and assumptions, there is a valley of openness and authenticity.”

— Haemin Sunim

56. “You were rushing to lick honey off a razor’s edge.”

— Haemin Sunim

57. “If I had to summarize the entirety of most people’s lives in a few words, it would be endless resistance to what is. As we resist, we are in constant motion trying to adjust, and yet we still remain unhappy about what is.”

— Haemin Sunim

58. “The reason we think we are better than others is that inferiority still lurks within us. A sense of superiority exists because of a sense of inferiority.”

— Haemin Sunim

59. “When you concentrate, even a phone book can be interesting. If you are bored, maybe you are not concentrating.”

— Haemin Sunim

60. “When a problem comes up in a relationship, don’t just grit your teeth and bear it. Acknowledge that the other person can be different from you, and allow them to be. Even siblings who have grown up in the same house have different viewpoints and habits. Do not just tell them to adjust to you; make room for difference.”

— Haemin Sunim

61. “The nice cutlery set, tea, wine, clothes, open, quilt that you have been saving for a special occasion – use them whenever you get the chance. Special moments are not separate from our everyday lives. When you make use of something special, it makes the moment special.”

— Haemin Sunim

62. “When someone does not like us, it is not our problem but theirs. Not everyone will like us. This is a problem only if we let it bother us.”

— Haemin Sunim

63. “There is no need to torment yourself because someone dislikes you. Accept it as a fact of life; you cannot control how others feel about you. If someone does not like you, let her have her opinion. Just move on.”

— Haemin Sunim

64. “Everything in this universe is evanescent. Because it is evanescent, it is also precious. Spend this precious moment wisely and beautifully.”

— Haemin Sunim

65. “If you love someone: embrace him, like the Holy Mother embraces Her one and only Son. Listen attentively, like there is no one else but him in the whole universe. Look into his eyes, like a soul trying to communicate after losing a language. Dance together, like tomorrow is your final day on earth.”

— Haemin Sunim

66. “Even if you don’t achieve the perfection the world demands, your existence already has value and is worthy of love.”

— Haemin Sunim

67. “What you are feeling is not something that should just be ignored, but something very significant. The feelings inside you will not easily disappear just because you decide to suppress or ignore them. Many psychological problems come about when repression becomes a habit and the energy of those suppressed emotions is unable to find a healthy outlet. Just as stagnant water becomes fetid and toxic, so it is with our emotions.”

— Haemin Sunim

68. “When you speak ill of others, it hurts you more than anyone – because your negativity is loudest within you.”

— Haemin Sunim

69. “The more grateful we feel, the happier we become. This is because gratitude helps us realize we are all connected. Nobody feels like an island when feeling grateful. Gratitude awakens us to the truth of our interdependent nature.”

— Haemin Sunim

70. “As we accept what is, our minds are relaxed and composed while the world changes rapidly around us. Do.”

— Haemin Sunim

71. “Don’t judge people based on how they appear, as they may have difficulties that nobody can see.”

— Haemin Sunim

72. “Do not turn something trivial into a major source of agony by wasting time and energy thinking about it endlessly.”

— Haemin Sunim

73. “If you do not know how to solve a problem in your life, give prayer a try. As you bring your attention inward and sincerely seek an answer, something sacred within you unlocks the door of inner wisdom.”

— Haemin Sunim

74. “The purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others.”

— Haemin Sunim

75. “There are many more ordinary hours in life than extraordinary ones. We wait in line at the supermarket. We spend hours commuting to work. We water our plants and feed our pets. Happiness means finding a moment of joy in those ordinary hours.”

— Haemin Sunim

76. “How would you feel if you were told you were wrong just for being different?”

— Haemin Sunim

77. “The good heart that prays for the end of others suffering ends its own suffering with such prayers. Send out your blessings to family, friends, colleagues, strangers on the street. A saint acts compassionately not because she is a saint. Rather, her compassionate acts make her a saint.”

— Haemin Sunim

78. “Who is an unfortunate person? One who looks at other people and sees only their flaws.”

— Haemin Sunim

79. “If you have led an honorable and honest life, there is no need to be afraid of speaking the truth. The.”

— Haemin Sunim

80. “Maturity comes with experience. One lesson of maturity is that we should not take our thoughts too seriously, and must learn to curb our ego and see the bigger picture.”

— Haemin Sunim

81. “But the truth is, you are already worthy of being loved. You don’t need to be convinced of your self-worth by taking on society’s demands and living up to its expectations. You already are a precious being and deserve to be loved and cared for.”

— Haemin Sunim

82. “Spirituality must be practiced not just in solitude but also among people. Open up to people around you and feel connected. This is the true challenge of spiritual practice.”

— Haemin Sunim

83. “I hope I don’t become that person who talks endlessly without noticing how the person in front of me feels.”

— Haemin Sunim

84. “The determination to convince someone might stem from being not completely convinced yourself.”

— Haemin Sunim

85. “Excessive thought won’t solve a problem. Rather than trying to fix it by thinking, set your mind at ease. A solution will rise to the surface. Remember that wisdom comes from stillness.”

— Haemin Sunim

86. “Humans are like mirrors: We reflect each other. When a wise person wants something from others, she first does what she desires from them, exemplifying rather than asking for it. If you want a friend to remember your birthday, remember hers first. If you want your husband to give you a massage, give him a massage first. If you want your children to watch less TV, turn off your TV first. Don’t just wait for what you want to happen. Act first.”

— Haemin Sunim

87. “In the chambers of our heart, we have two tenants living side by side: Adolf Hitler and Mother Teresa. When we are overcome by insecurity and fear, we feel the inner workings of Hitler. When we are in touch with love and connection, we hear the gentle voice of Mother Teresa.”

— Haemin Sunim

88. “Without people to pay attention to us, our lives would feel empty, like being alone on a stage without an audience. With this in mind, I would encourage people to think every once in a while about whether there are friends or family members going through a difficult time. Even though we may not have solutions to the problems they are facing, they will be grateful just to know we are willing to listen.”

— Haemin Sunim

89. “Our reality is not the infinitely stretching cosmos but the small part we choose to focus on.”

— Haemin Sunim

90. “We consider it good to be good to others, but don’t forget that you have a responsibility to be good to yourself first.”

— Haemin Sunim

91. “Instead of being the smartest person in the room, quick to critique others, be the warmhearted friend, bringing people together and sharing things. Be the sensitive neighbor, capable of feeling the suffering of others.”

— Haemin Sunim

92. “If our breathing is calm, our mind will be calm, and if our breathing is agitated, our mind will be agitated. The same goes the other way around: Frantic minds make for frantic breathing, and peaceful minds produce peaceful breathing. In addition, breathing always happens in the here and now and thus anchors our mind in the present. As we breathe more calmly and deeply, the mind follows suit, savoring deep and peaceful silence.”

— Haemin Sunim

93. “When you are asked to do something, determine if you can do it. If you cannot, then decline as soon as possible, the way in a restaurant you would send back the wrong order. If you don’t send it back immediately, you will have to pay for it.”

— Haemin Sunim

94. “When we say that someone is “good,” we often mean that the person complies with the will of others and isn’t self-assertive.”

— Haemin Sunim

95. “Because each person’s situation is different, it’s difficult to draw any firm conclusions, but one of the known causes of becoming a workaholic is growing up feeling unworthy of your parents’ attention unless you do something great, as opposed to feeling loved and cared for unconditionally.”

— Haemin Sunim

96. “The noise from a motorcycle assaults the driver more than anyone. The driver has only himself to blame when he is old and can’t hear anything. When you speak ill of others, it hurts you more than anyone – because your negativity is loudest within you. No matter how hurt you are, you don’t need to have the last word. The last word can obliterate even the good memories. Although things have changed, is it necessary to discard all your memories, especially the happy ones?”

— Haemin Sunim

97. “Are you a controlling parent? Are you devoting too much attention to your child? If the answer is yes, then turn some of that attention toward your parents. If you are good to your own parents, then your child will learn how to treat you in the future.”

— Haemin Sunim

98. “We change without realizing it. We are in the midst of change even now.”

— Haemin Sunim

99. “The first case is one in which the father behaves in an excessively patriarchal way, withholding affection and strictly enforcing rules and standards. He often controls his children by making them feel shame and guilt. To his children, such a father looms large, like a mountain that cannot be crossed. Even as adults, his children do not feel comfortable around him, having spent their childhood afraid of him, and cannot bring themselves to open up and have an honest conversation with him.”

— Haemin Sunim

100. “Everybody needs time alone. When you’ve spent the whole day at work being harassed by others, and then return home to find your family won’t leave you in peace, you can easily become annoyed and angry. At such times, do not blame yourself for getting annoyed. Instead, take some time for yourself by stopping by your favorite bookstore, coffee shop, or temple. Go for a quiet walk alone and listen to your favorite songs. Being alone makes the world pause for a moment and helps to restore harmony.”

— Haemin Sunim