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Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Television star to Yoga Teacher: Yoon Dong-hwan's journey of healing and transformation
Born in Seoul in 1968, Yoon Dong-hwan was the kind of student every parent dreams of, a brilliant academic who graduated from Seoul National University's Department of Religious Studies, then went on to earn multiple master's degrees from prestigious institutions. He started as a musical actor in 1985, then landed his big break in 1992 when selected as an MBC talent alongside future stars like Jang Dong-gun. His Seoul National University background made him an instant celebrity. He used his intellectual appeal to captivate audiences with both historical and contemporary roles. From Korea's top historical drama actor to yoga master The Rise and Sudden Fall of a Television Emperor Yoon Dong-hwan's career was nothing short of spectacular. He became the king of historical dramas, playing memorable characters in "Jumong" and "Chuno". His versatility extended beyond acting; he was a fashion model for major brands and even worked as a literary translator. In 2010, he took a bold step into politics, running for Seoul City Council as an independent candidate. While unsuccessful, this move showed his commitment to social causes. However, his outspoken nature became his downfall. After speaking against a major government river development project, his career took a hit. Casting directors suddenly stopped calling, and he found himself essentially blacklisted from the industry. The final blow came when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer , robbing him of his voice. Ancient Yoga Wisdom Saves a Modern Soul Here's where Yoon Dong-hwan's story becomes deeply inspiring for anyone familiar with yoga's healing power. Faced with a career lull and health challenges, he didn't turn to Western medicine alone or expensive treatments. Instead, he embarked on a two-year spiritual journey to Thailand, where he immersed himself in the ancient practices of yoga and meditation. This wasn't just casual yoga classes - he lived in Thai temples, following the rigorous discipline that yoga practitioners have maintained for thousands of years. For Indians, this resonates powerfully because we understand yoga isn't just physical exercise; it's a complete system of healing that addresses mind, body, and spirit. The transformation was remarkable. Through consistent practice of asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and dhyana (meditation), Yoon Dong-hwan not only regained his physical health but discovered an inner peace that his successful acting career had never provided. His voice, damaged by cancer treatment, gradually improved through yogic breathing practices. From Student to Teacher - Sharing the Gift After returning to Korea, Yoon Dong-hwan didn't immediately return to acting. Instead, he chose to live in mountain temples, continuing his practice and deepening his understanding. He describes his lifestyle as "semi-monastic" - a concept familiar to anyone who understands the ashram tradition in Indian spirituality. Today, he conducts "Morning at Yeonhwa Temple" sessions in Seoul, teaching yoga and meditation to stressed urban dwellers. His classes follow the traditional structure: 40 minutes of physical yoga followed by meditation - exactly how it's been taught in Indian ashrams for centuries. During the COVID pandemic, he adapted to online teaching through Zoom, spreading healing to people confined to their homes. His unique approach includes giving emotions names (like calling anger "Rudolf") to create psychological distance - a technique that combines ancient mindfulness with modern psychology. What makes his story particularly touching is how he teaches that "anger is not me; it's just thoughts and emotions that arise in me." This philosophy echoes the fundamental teaching of yoga - that we are not our thoughts or emotions, but the consciousness that observes them. His journey from Thailand temples back to Korean mountains represents the universal nature of yogic wisdom. Yoon Dong-hwan's transformation from a successful actor to a yoga teacher represents something beautiful about our interconnected world. His story shows how ancient Indian wisdom can heal modern wounds, regardless of geography or culture.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Francis bestows legacy of mercy, service, financial reform, environmental protection
Among his historical achievements as both the first pontiff from the Global South and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia, Pope Francis is remembered in the days following his death as "the People's Pope". The political characteristics of his sometimes controversial papacy were dedicated to environmental protection, supporting overlooked Catholic communities and compounding equality in the church. "[The People's Pope] is absolutely the best way to describe him," Jana Bennett, professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. Pope Francis Revealed Burial Wishes Just Days After Becoming Pope In 2013 Theology experts, Catholics and critics around the world are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, 88, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, and dissecting his papacy. Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, 2025, after battling bilateral pneumonia in the months preceding his death. Read On The Fox News App "Even as pope, he wanted to be treated as an ordinary person," Bennett said. "I think it's evident in the way that he wants to be buried." Pope Francis selected the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a cherished familiar holy place, as his final resting place just days after being elected pope in 2013. Separate from the leaders of the Holy See before him, Pope Francis chose one coffin versus three, made of wood, to be laid out as faithful pay their respects. Theologian On 'Conclave' Accuracy, Expectations For Next Secretive Event After Pope Francis' Death The former pontiff released declarations and documents throughout his papacy which pointed to advancements for the betterment of both everyday Catholics and non-Catholics. He urged the faithful to have hope and seek mercy all the time, especially through the sacrament of confession. "He believed that everybody should be hopeful," Bennett said. "That we should hope in God and that there is always hope available, even in the darkest of times, for new life and for something new on the horizon." She added that Pope Francis preached a path forward, even for the most egregious sinners. "I saw the way he interacted," Bennett told Fox News Digital. "Even in the Popemobile he would try to bless people and talk with them. It was about the way he responded to common people." Pope Francis To Lie In State, Mourners Welcome: What To Expect From The Pontiff's Funeral "I think that you can't understand Pope Francis' papacy without attending to the very direct one-on-one way that he would reach out to people," she said. "From the little baby that he would bless in the square to people with disabilities. He granted audiences with just a range of people; both people who were the most impoverished to people among the most powerful." During his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis met with many world leaders, including President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I think to him, everyone is deserving of a blessing," Bennett said. Among vocational and merciful acts of service, Pope Francis would wash and kiss the feet of men, women and children, including those of prison inmates, during an annual Holy Thursday ritual. Pope Francis Emphasized Catholicism Globally, Reached Beyond Us, Europe Into Impoverished Nations "He changed the way we think about service to others and service to all and who is worthy of being served by a pope and respected by a pope," Bennett said. Pope Francis was the first pope to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi, well-known for his call for engagement with the impoverished, love of creation and the Church. "I think all of those things showed up in Pope Francis' papacy," Bennett said. Born in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis applied his world leadership to underscore care and concern for people at the margins, specifically in areas that lacked an abundance of clergy. Click Here To Get To The Fox News App "He also had a strong awareness of the global nature of the church," Bennett said. "He had a way of responding to people from different countries, different continents. He was a very sharp politician. He was especially aware of the financial corruption at the Vatican, and he was able to respond to that." Pope Francis instituted reforms to ensure charitable and reputable business practices at the Vatican Bank. "He surrounded himself with advisors," Bennett article source: Pope Francis bestows legacy of mercy, service, financial reform, environmental protection
Fox News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Pope Francis bestows legacy of mercy, service, financial reform, environmental protection
Among his historical achievements as both the first pontiff from the Global South and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia, Pope Francis is remembered in the days following his death as "the People's Pope". The political characteristics of his sometimes controversial papacy were dedicated to environmental protection, supporting overlooked Catholic communities and compounding equality in the church. "[The People's Pope] is absolutely the best way to describe him," Jana Bennett, professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. Theology experts, Catholics and critics around the world are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, 88, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, and dissecting his papacy. Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, 2025, after battling bilateral pneumonia in the months preceding his death. "Even as pope, he wanted to be treated as an ordinary person," Bennett said. "I think it's evident in the way that he wants to be buried." Pope Francis selected the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a cherished familiar holy place, as his final resting place just days after being elected pope in 2013. Separate from the leaders of the Holy See before him, Pope Francis chose one coffin versus three, made of wood, to be laid out as faithful pay their respects. The former pontiff released declarations and documents throughout his papacy which pointed to advancements for the betterment of both everyday Catholics and non-Catholics. He urged the faithful to have hope and seek mercy all the time, especially through the sacrament of confession. "He believed that everybody should be hopeful," Bennett said. "That we should hope in God and that there is always hope available, even in the darkest of times, for new life and for something new on the horizon." She added that Pope Francis preached a path forward, even for the most egregious sinners. "I saw the way he interacted," Bennett told Fox News Digital. "Even in the Popemobile he would try to bless people and talk with them. It was about the way he responded to common people." "I think that you can't understand Pope Francis' papacy without attending to the very direct one-on-one way that he would reach out to people," she said. "From the little baby that he would bless in the square to people with disabilities. He granted audiences with just a range of people; both people who were the most impoverished to people among the most powerful." During his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis met with many world leaders, including President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I think to him, everyone is deserving of a blessing," Bennett said. Among vocational and merciful acts of service, Pope Francis would wash and kiss the feet of men, women and children, including those of prison inmates, during an annual Holy Thursday ritual. "He changed the way we think about service to others and service to all and who is worthy of being served by a pope and respected by a pope," Bennett said. Pope Francis was the first pope to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi, well-known for his call for engagement with the impoverished, love of creation and the Church. "I think all of those things showed up in Pope Francis' papacy," Bennett said. Born in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis applied his world leadership to underscore care and concern for people at the margins, specifically in areas that lacked an abundance of clergy. "He also had a strong awareness of the global nature of the church," Bennett said. "He had a way of responding to people from different countries, different continents. He was a very sharp politician. He was especially aware of the financial corruption at the Vatican, and he was able to respond to that." Pope Francis instituted reforms to ensure charitable and reputable business practices at the Vatican Bank. "He surrounded himself with advisors," Bennett said.
