“In this age of worldly desires, my training is in the studio and on the green.” So says a “hip-hop monk” who once stood on the stage of an MC battle and now holds a robe and a putter in both hands. He sharpens his mind with beats and knows himself with swing. For him, the Buddhist path is not in the temple. It is in the sound, in the words, and on the green of the wind and grass.
Golf is a sport that cultivates compassion
“The most important thing in golf is to be aware of the existence of others,” he says. Waiting for the group ahead, not disturbing the opponent’s concentration, carefully preparing the green. There is a “chain of consideration” that is separate from competitiveness. “Golf does not read other people’s minds. But it does “be considerate”. That is compassion itself.” Compassion in Buddhism is not just “kindness”. It is the power to sympathize with the suffering of others and quietly take action. For him, who has clashed with others in the music scene, golf taught him the sense of “being together without competing”.
Don't chase the score. Strike now.
He says, “We’re always concerned about the score. The number of views, the number of subscribers, the monthly income, the number of likes… but the only thing that really matters is the shot we just took.” The more you get excited about the scorecard, the more you lose focus. Focus all your attention on the shot in front of you. That moment of mindlessness is the state of “Jo” in Buddhism. “Whether it’s music or a round, the moment you enter the “now,” you feel like time stops. It’s close to the “shikan” of zazen. When you hit the ball, you’re only conscious of your breathing.” From the outside, golf is just hitting the ball. But inside, it’s a dialogue between the ego, desire, and failure. And there is a quiet understanding that can only be obtained by doing it over and over again.
"Flow" may be the closest place to enlightenment
“Flow” in hip-hop, that is, the feeling of riding the beat, is connected to Buddhist “Zen meditation.” You don’t think with your head, you feel with your heart, and your body moves on its own – that unconscious zone is the same in swing and rap. “I feel like flow is the closest to enlightenment. If you try to control it, it disappears immediately. But if you surrender to it, everything is connected. The microphone, the wind, the club.” Rather than trying to find words to express himself, he believes in the sensations that “come down” from the words. It is also close to the sound of “Dharma” in Buddhism.
Modern "gyo" also exists on the fairway
“For me, the studio, the temple, and the green are all places of training.” Training does not mean retreating to the mountains or abandoning the world. Rather, it is about honing the skills to harmonize the mind in daily life. Anger, impatience, desire, jealousy – looking at everything and letting it go. For him, the fairway, surrounded by grass, wind, and silence, is the place for training. There, consideration for others and sincerity to oneself are tested.
Towards a path of harmony, not competition
Hip-hop has a culture of battle, Buddhism has the goal of “enlightenment,” and golf is a game of competing for scores. But he says, “Essentially, I think it’s all about ‘resonance.’ Instead of venting your anger, respect the differences. Even if you make a mistake, you can go back. You can return to the ‘now.’ That’s what Buddhism, rap, and golf teach us.” The words written on the grass will disappear in the wind. But that one stroke, that one verse, that one breath will certainly leave something behind. Today, the hip-hop monk quietly walks across the green. Speaking not with words, but with attitude.