I help people use contemplative insight to navigate modern life with more clarity, depth, and purpose. No robes required — though I've worn them.
"I've been ordained three times, worked in famine-affected communities, built wellness startups, and somehow ended up explaining Buddhist philosophy to 12,000 people on TikTok. This is what the path looks like."
AJ Kim is a Buddhist educator, humanitarian, author, and coach working at the intersection of contemplative wisdom, social impact, and modern life. Based in Toronto, her work spans three continents and three Buddhist traditions.
First ordained at 19 by one of Korea's most respected Buddhist leaders, Venerable Pomnyun, she spent three years as a postulant and has since deepened her practice across the Plum Village tradition in Thailand and the Theravāda forest tradition rooted in Myanmar.
Alongside her contemplative training, AJ brings over a decade of experience in social entrepreneurship, community development, and humanitarian field work — from leading Korea's pioneering mindfulness startup Mind Ground, to documentary work across the Global South, to facilitating wellbeing programs with communities in Ghana, Tanzania, and India.
She is the author of Dear Dharma: Buddhist-ish Modern Wisdom for a Complicated World, and the founder of Wisdomway Impact, a registered Canadian NGO.
A decade of on-the-ground work across Asia, Africa, and North America — teaching, facilitating, building, and learning alongside communities navigating real complexity.
Buddhist-ish Modern Wisdom for a Complicated World
What happens when ancient Buddhist wisdom meets the actual complexity of modern life? Not the Instagram quote version. The real, nuanced, sometimes inconvenient version.
Written for people who are curious about Buddhist thought but want something that holds up in the messy reality of careers, relationships, and meaning-making in the 21st century.
Get the book on Amazon →
Subharti University India 2023 · Wisdomway Impact Panel Toronto · Conference keynote
AJ brings a rare combination to any stage: genuine contemplative depth, on-the-ground humanitarian experience, and the ability to make complex ideas land without losing their edge.
She has spoken at universities, conferences, and community events across Asia, Africa, and North America — and holds an audience with the confidence of someone who has tested these ideas in real communities, not just classrooms.
Available for conferences, corporate events, university talks, retreats, and panels.
Whether you're interested in 1:1 coaching, a speaking engagement, a brand partnership, or just want to say hello — I read every message personally.