In celibate monks' life, amorous feelings are regarded as a major obstacle in achieving enlightenment. The best policy is then to avoid it completely. Venerable Seon-up is an exception to the rule. And he has been breaking the cardinal rule for the last 17 years.

Ven. Seon-up runs the "Happiness-healing center" in Seoul's Samcheong-dong area. Many people have visited here, sharing their most personal feelings of relationship problems and concerns with him, seeking his advice.

"Whether it's dating or serious love, all essentially is based on human relationship. And human relationship is based on karma," he said in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo, published Saturday.

As a monk, he is also aware that he is doing something unusual and has a good way of defending it. "Buddhism attaches a great importance to karma, arising from human relationship. So, it's not something very strange for a monk to do dating counseling," he said.

But he admitted that it was not easy for him to be understood. "Even other monks regarded me as an odd ball a few years back. They thought even though I did it to help other people, but then the very job of talking about dating and very private affairs itself could become a stumbling block for a monk to gain enlightenment."

Not only is he an expert on karma and love affairs, he is also a well-known radio host as well. For the last six years, he has been in charge of the program, "Living and Thinking" where he often took live calls from "broken hearts" and offered instant advice. These days, he newly opened a class for would-be married couples.

His unusual mission started 17 years ago when he served in the military as a chaplain. One day, a young solider came up to him. Sitting in front of him, but not uttering a word for a while, the young man finally opened his mouth, telling Ven. Seon-up that his girlfriend had left. The young solider burst into tears and cried for a long time.

"I knew then that even though these young men are soldiers, after all, they were also at the age of being most vulnerable when it comes to love."

That experience changed his life and he became a specialist on dating as more and more young soldiers approached him not for spiritual enlightenment, but for relationship problems.

"I always tell them about an old mirror in my room. When you look at the mirror, you see yourself. And there is the answer. I tell them to face everything just like the mirror, without denying."

As he has become famous, there also comes inconvenience. It's especially when he goes to a public bath. Recognizing him, people often come up to him, sharing their most naked and private affairs of their marriage life. That, he confesses, is something he has yet to become accustomed to.


So, after all these years of offering advice on life, what is his general advice to people who suffer from love fevers?