The Temple History and Founder
Even though the Won tradition was founded in Korea, one will find a thriving community of the Buddhist sect residing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Founded by Reverend WonGong So in 2003, the Temple was established to provide a way for people in the United States to become practitioners of the Won Buddhist tradition, a vision that Rev. WonGong carried with her throughout her studies and undergraduate novice training in Korea. It was not until 2003, when Rev. WonGong received permission and blessings from her superiors, that she travelled to Raleigh to make her dream a reality.
Beginning as a meditation class taught to a single practitioner in Chapel Hill, Rev. WonGong’s community quickly grew into a full class which required larger and larger facilities to meditate within. In 2005, through the support of the New York Temple, donations from practitioners, and Rev. WonGong’s own donations from her previous work as a social worker in Maryland, a more permanent residence was bought for the meditation community. Yet, the Won community continued to grow, and Rev. WonGong saw the need for a Dharma Hall, one that would accommodate both her regular practitioners, but also allow for more individuals to join the community. Local fundraisers were held in the form of benefit concerts and the annual Temple bazaar, and donations continued to be made by local practitioners. Perhaps the most inspiring form of charity came from Won Buddhist communities in Korea, who donated to the construction of the Dharma Hall after Rev. WonGong travelled there to tell others of the growing sangha in North Carolina. All these resources together, along with the time and energy of 100 individuals towards its construction, led to the opening of the new Dharma Hall on October 11, 2011.
With the establishment of the Dharma Hall, another kyomunim, or one who devotes themself to teach Buddha dharma in the Won Buddhist tradition, joined the Temple by the name of Reverend Ginger. In 2005, the first Temple practitioner took on a dharma name and pledged to abide by the ten precepts of the Won Buddhist tradition; however, with the establishment of the Dharma Hall, fourteen others have followed in their footsteps. Both the kyomunims (Rev. WonGong and Rev. Ginger) and these dharma name recipients make the kyowhadan, “a group whose members are committed to a sincere practice of mutual support for each other and the Temple community”.
Won Buddhism: Mind Practice and Sitting Meditation
Before going into more depth concerning the Temple’s approach to the tradition, it is important to discuss Won Buddhism generally in more detail. Won Buddhism was founded in 1916 in Korea, when the Founding Master Sotaesan found ultimate enlightenment while seeking the truth through various ascetic practices. Master Sotaesan, while a supporter of the teachings of the Buddha, revolutionized them in the sense that he created a tradition that would easily assimilate into a secular world and improve the lives of everyday people. The name of Won Buddhism itself in Korean is a compound of the words Won-Bul-Kyo, which mean truth, enlightenment, and teaching respectively, making the rough translation of the tradition name “the path that leads us to become enlightened to the truth”.
With Won Buddhism comes an emphasis on the mind, particularly its practice. Those who follow this tradition, including the Temple, believe that everything is a part of the mind’s creation, a statement they believe to be the essence of the Buddhadharma, or the Buddha’s teaching. To put it simply, mind practice is the act of recognizing that all things one perceives are manifestations of the mind, and through this act is the hope that one will have a more enriched life. It is from this idea of mind practice that the emphasis on meditation is founded in the Won Buddhist tradition, to remove delusive thoughts from one’s mind and see clearly one’s true nature. Through the practice of sitting meditation, a water energy is visualized that rises in the body to meet the fiery energy that descends. By finding this balance, one can deter these delusive thoughts and achieve a state of peace and wellness. Yet, one must be vigilant in maintaining this balance, as to prevent the fiery energy from taking over and “dampening the brightness of the spirit”.
The Temple and Meditation Practices
Following this emphasis on sitting meditation in the Won Buddhist tradition, the Temple provides a list of meditation techniques for its practitioners, as well as providing a list of general etiquette to abide by. These etiquette rules include taking off one’s shoes before entering the Temple as well as ensuring one’s feet are clean, wearing non-revealing and loose-fitting clothing that is fit for meditation, waiting until the end of a silent period of mediation to join the community if one arrives late, and remaining with the meditation group until the end of the session as to not disturb others. In terms of the ways in which the Temple follows the traditional Won Buddhist sitting meditation, the Temple believes in the basic truth of meditation that is finding one’s true and calm nature, along with the three central aspects of meditation: good posture, focused breathing, and a clear mind.
Posture in the Temple is accomplished by meditating upon a comfortable mat and pillow on the floor, crossing one’s legs, and keeping one’s spine upright. The Temple suggests that those who cannot find comfort meditating on the floor should move to meditate on a chair, as to prevent distraction during meditation. Moving to breathing, the Temple notes the fact that breathing is something that happens unconsciously, and under normal circumstances it is something that we do not monitor. However, during sitting mediation, one can focus on breathing as a means of quieting their mind. When one finds themselves wandering in their thoughts during sitting meditation, the Temple advises the practitioner to bring their thoughts back to their breathing. This advice also plays into the final instruction of maintaining a clear mind; the Temple notes that many beginners will find it difficult to concentrate on only their breathing for extended periods of time, and instructs practitioners to notice the intrusive thoughts and let them go as quickly as they appear.
Programs and Interactions with Other Buddhist Communities
The Temple holds Dharma services every Saturday and Sunday, allowing those who worship in churches or synagogues to be able to attend. These classes are led by both the kyomunims Rev. Wongong and Rev. Ginger, as well as experienced lay practitioners. For those interested in meditation and scripture, morning meditation classes are taught daily and groups who wish to study Won Buddhist scriptures meet weekly. For children, the Temple offers a Sunday children’s meditation, of which the first half consists of a 1-5 minute sitting meditation session, followed by arts, crafts, and outdoor activities. The Temple also emphasizes that all are welcome to participate in its programs, and even has a Meditation Garden open to all guests. While all programs offered within its facilities are free, the Temple suggests a $5-$15 donation for adults, and $1-$5 donation for students.
Additionally, the Temple makes various retreats to other Buddhist communities throughout the year, one of which is to the Southern Dharma Retreat Center in Madison County, North Carolina. However, the Temple also occasionally plans longer retreats to Won Buddhist communities in Korea. The Temple has only hosted five of these retreats, the latest of which was attended by 22 practitioners of the Temple. The Temple also holds annual summer camps for children and hosts its own retreats for Buddhist communities based in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. There is little doubt that the Temple’s founders and its practitioners see Won Buddhism thriving in this region, and believe that it will continue to do so in the years to come.
Report prepared by Chesney Reid