According to the development of scientific civilization, the human spirit, which should make use of material things, grows weaker, while material things, which should be used by human beings, increasingly flourish and assert their domination over the enfeebled human spirit. Thus, human beings find themselves chained to the servitude of materialism. How, then, can they expect a life free from suffering and trouble? Won Buddhism was therefore founded in order to lead all living creatures to the vast and boundless world of happiness, away from the tormenting sea of life, by means of strengthening the power of the spirit over the forces of material things through faith in a religion based on Truth, and through actual moral training.
Buddhism is a superior,
truly great Law, embodying and expounding the deepest Truth by means of limitless
teaching experiences. So it is that many masters, steeped in great personal
virtue, established their own sects and schools, yet nevertheless taught essentially
the same Truth. Indeed, many religious denominations throughout the world originate
from the one true principle. However, their systems and teachings have, for
a long time, been practiced in such different ways as to have had the unfortunate
effect of causing a failure in mutual understanding.
This is the result of ignorance of the original principle from which each denomination
and sect was derived. How, then, is the original purpose of the Buddhas and
saints to be understood?
Traditional Buddhism, in the past, organized monk-centered systems and laid
great emphasis upon them, but these were not generally suitable for a laity
involved in secular life. often, it seemed that in order to be a genuine Buddhist
follower one had to discard one's duties and obligations as a member of society
and even one's occupation. if this were the true spirit of Buddhism, how were
the great teachings of Buddhism to reach all sentient beings in the universe?
And how could Buddhism be called the perfect Way?
For these reasons, we worship Il-Won-Sang, the Dharma-Kaya Buddha, as the object
of our faith and the standard of our moral training, for it is the origin of
all beings in the universe and is the mind-seal Buddhas and saints. We have
established the principles of faith and moral training with the Four Graces:
the Grace of Heaven and Earth, the Grace of Parents, the Grace of Brethren,
and the Grace of Law, and with the Threefold Learnings: the Cultivation of Spiritual
Stability, the Study of Facts and Principles, and the Selection of Right Conduct.
In addition to this, we attempt to integrate and utilize the teach of all other
religions so as to be believers of an inclusive and perfect religion.