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Won Buddhism:
Its Faith and Practice
Won Buddhism is a new religion in the era of creation, which started in Korea
and is growing worldwide. Won Buddhism was established based on the awakening
of young Chung-Bin Pak, later called So-tae-san Tae-jong-sa, a new Buddha of the
era of creation. On April 28, 1916 in Kilryong Li, Paeksoo Myeon, Youngwang County,
Chonnan Province, with the awakening of So-tae-san Tae-jong-sa, the Won Buddhist
calendar began .
The object of Won Buddhist faith is Dharmakaya Buddha, the "Truth of lrwon",
the transliteration of the Korean word meaning one circle. The truth of lrwon
is symbolized by the form of a circle, "O". The symbol of lrwon represents
the source of all beings, the original mind of all sentient beings, and the enlightened
mind of all Buddhas, and saints.
In the Won Buddhist faith, there are no external images of Buddhas enshrined for
the purpose of offering worship or respect. Won Buddhists offer respect to whatever
work they participate in, whomever they meet, and whatever objects they handle.
Won Buddhists do not exclude other faiths or views, because the symbol of lrwon
points to the sameness of the enlightened mind of all Buddhas and saints.
Won Buddhist practice aims to find what a person has within, to recongnize and
reveal one's own Buddah nature,. complete and perfect like Irwon. Won Buddhism
seeks also to cultivate this nature, and to utilize it perfectly, and fairly in
one's body and mind.
So-tae-san, the Founder
of Won Buddhism
Pak, Chung-Bin is title founder of Won Buddhism. So-tae-san is
his Dharma name, and Tae-jong-sa is his Dharma Title, by which he is referred
to within the Won Buddhist order.
So-tae-san Tae-jong-sa was born the son of a peasant on May 5, 1891 in Youngchon,
Kilryong Li, Paeksoo Myeon, Youngwang County, Chunnam Province.
So-tae-san's journey to awakening started with common questions. Since the age
of seven, So-tae-san had inquired into the natural phenomena of the universe;
the processes of human life, birth, aging, diseases, and death. In addittion to
these phenomena he also contemeplated various human emotions; happiness, anger,
sadness, and joy. After twenty years of incessant search he finally accomplished
the Great Awakening.
After the Great Awakening, So-tae-san observed that people of the contemporary
world were enslaved by materialism, rather than benefiting from it, due to the
loss of spiritual power. He founded the Won Buddhist Order with the aim of leading
all human beings from the state of suffering into paradise on earth. With the
help of his nine disciples he initiated quiet revolutions; such as dispensing
with formalities and vanity, abolishing superstition, executing thrift and savings,
and erecting an embankment to reclaim land from the sea.
So-tae-san wrote the doctrine and institutional system of Won Buddhism. He established
the headquarters of Won Buddhism in Iksan City and started the Won Buddhist community
in the headquarters. He passed away at the age of 53 on June 1, 1943, after twenty
eight years of selfless mission.
The History of Won Buddhism
Many people came to So-tae-san who was awakened to the Truth of
Irwon. From among them, So-tae-san Chose nine of deep faith as the foundation
of the Won Buddhist order. He established the spiritual and financial foundation
of the new order based on funds from the savings association and a successful
embankment project which reclaimed a beach for use as farm-land. While praying
to the Truth of Irwon with his nine disciples, at the mountain peaks for 100 days,
he received authentication for the mission of the Won Buddhist order from the
Realm of Truth. So-tae-san established the headquarters of the new order in Sinyong
Dong, Iksan City, the present headquarters, and proclaimed the initiation of the
new order with the temporary name of "A Society for Studying the Teachings
of Buddhism." So-tae-san wrote and edited Chong-jon - the basic scripture
- and other canonical texts.
He passed away at the age of 53 on June 1, 1943, twenty eight years after his
awakening.
So-tae-san was succeeded by Chongsan, Kyu Song(1900-1962), who was born in Songju,
Korea, Kyongbuk Province. Chongsan performed relief work for war refugees after
Korea won its independence from Japanese control and after the civil war between
North and South Korea. He passed away on January 22, 1962 after twenty-nine years'
mission.
Chongsan was succeeded by Taesan, Taego Kim(1916-), the Third Prime Master. Taesan
actively promotes plans for building one global community.
Won Buddhist Mission
In addition to its headquarters in Iksan city, Korea, the Won
Buddhist order has many branch temples and other facilities nationwide in Korea.
The headquarters of Won Buddhism is a place of great natural beauty, with seasonal
flowers and many song birds. It is the center of Won Buddhist missions and administration.
It is also the Won Buddhist home for the birth of the believers' minds, and the
cradle of their faith, where people are welcomed with joyful greetings.
There are 20 dioceses and about 400 temples nationwide in Korea. Won Buddhist
mission reaches several foreign countries, including the United States of America.
There are about thirty Won Buddhist temples around the world, which actively carry
out the missions. There are facilities for educational, training, charitable,
medicinal, academic, industrial, and other projects. All of these projects will
proceed, following the progress of the Won Buddhist mission.
Goals of Won Buddhist Mission
The Won Buddhist order is bringing beneficence to the human race by way of mission,
education, and charity, which are its three major tasks. Its mission is accomplished
mainly at the Won Buddhist temples. It aims to deliver Won Buddhist teachings
to people who have never known a truthful way. It also purposes to help people
to discover the great power within themselves, a power that is equal to the power
of Buddhas. Moreover, it teaches one to become free from external bondage aided
by regular services, training sessions, rituals, counseling, and other support
in the temples.
Won Buddhist educational task aims to dispel the darkness and closeness of ignorance,
and to manifest brightness and the emancipation that comes with knowledge. These
goals are fulfilled in the educational institutions affiliated with the Won Buddhist
order. At the same time, Won Buddhism's goal for education is the goal of education
in general, which purposes to promote human spirituality and world civilization
for a better world.
Charitable work aims to protect disadvantaged people in the realms of spiritual,
physical, or material conditions, and to help them to cultivate independent power.
It also aims to build a society based on the ideals of perfection and equality.
For these goals, the Won Buddhist order has established many charitable institutions
and welfare facilities for homeless people, orphans, disabled people, aged people,
sick people, and various neglected people in the society.
Won Buddhist Proposals
for World Peace
Won Buddhism is not confined to one nation or one race. Won Buddhism aims to go
beyond any boundaries or obstructions. The founder of Won Buddhism advocated lrwonism
himself, and claimed that all religions meet at the thought of lrwonism because
the final goal of religions is one and the same.
Chongsan taught Samdong Morality (The Morality based on the Three Principles of
Identity).
The First Principle of Identity, "All Doctrines Have the Same Origin,"
suggests that each religion should expand beyond its own boundaries to open up
to other religions, since all religions share one Truth and the same goal.
The Second Principle of Identity, "All Living Beings Are Related by the Same
Force (of Life)," suggests that the human race ought to live as brothers,
free from fighting or resentment, since all human beings are of one family.
The Third Principle of Identity, "All Enterprises Are for the Same Purpose',
suggests that all human enterprises and assertions need to cooperate with each
other, rather than rejecting one another, in order to construct a better world
on earth.
Chongsan's spirit of Samdong Morality is succeeded by Taesan's proposals for world
peace, namely, cultivation of the mind-field, development of a worldwide market
and the united religions movement
"Cultivation of the Mind-field" purposes to foster the strength of mind,
which can then make good use of scientific and technological advancement. Otherwise,
human beings become enslaved to materialism and degenerate due to the influence
of advanced science and technology.
Development of a Worldwide Market" purposes to promote international cooperation
without confinement to national or racial interests, so the all human beings are
equally provided with affluent material conditions in clothing, food, and shelter
for their physical needs.
The United Religions Movement" purposes to free the individual from one's
own religious egotism and boundaries, and to fulfill the original mission of religion.
In furtherance of the goal of religious cooperation, the Won Buddhist community
proposes to establish an institutionalized organization for world religions comparable
to, and on a par with, the United Nations organization.
The Won Buddhist community will take the lead in removing the boundaries and barriers
of the past, and creating one global family on earth, in company with other religious
communities.
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