 He began training under Taoist Master Chung San in 1972 and in 1982 was sanctioned as a Taoist Master.Master Sunim spent six years in rigorous practice alone in hermitages in remote mountain areas where he followed a raw food diet, eating what the mountains made available.However, from the time he lived and practice in Zen meditation halls Master Sunim experienced health difficulties which no medical doctor or Chinese herbalist was able to alleviate.