로터스랜턴 겨울호 vol.44

02 Jogye Order FeatureⅠ

02 Ven. Jaseung Visits America

06 Jogye Order FeatureⅡ

06 Korean Temple Food Experience Event held at New York

10 ReportⅠ10 13th Korea, China, Japan Buddhist Goodwill Conference in Wuxi, 10 China on October 19

12 ReportⅡ12 Jogye Order International Seon Center Opens

16 ReportⅢ16 Jogye Order to Host 2012 WFB Conference

18 Engaged Buddhism18 Jogye Order Continues Tradition of Offering Coal Briquettes to the Poor

20 Focus 20 30 Year Anniversary of October 27 Incident

23 Cartoon

24 Dharma Ⅰ24 Everyday Korean Buddhist Practices

26 Dharma Ⅱ26 Zen and the Art of Robbery

28 Korean Buddhism Highlight28 15 Virtues of Korean Buddhism

30 Jogye Order News

Contents

|| CoverBulguksa

Supreme Patriarch

Most Venerable Beopjeon Sunim

President & Publisher

Most Venerable Jaseung Sunim

Editor

Ven. Hyekyung Sunim

Contributing Editor

Ven. Yongsu Sunim

Art Director

Jogye Order Publishing

Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

45 Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, KoreaTEL. (82)2-2011-1830FAX. (82)2-735-0614 Email: [email protected] www.koreanbuddhism.net(English)

Free Subscription available for Buddhist

organizations.

Please send organization name and mailingaddress to :[email protected]

Winter 2010

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The Jogye Order has great interest in these two fields.” Ven. Jaseung

also requested the UN’s continued interest in these pursuits.

Secretary Ban also discussed his connection to Buddhism in the

meeting, which lasted over 30 minutes. He said his mother prays

constantly and he himself went to Beopjusa Temple to study for his

examination.

Jogye Order Signs Accord with UNESCOVen. Jaseung Meets Director Irina Bokova

Ven. Jaseung visited UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova at

UNESCO in Manhattan, New York on September 20 to hold a

signing ceremony of an accord on protecting children in

impoverished nations. The Jogye Order and UNESCO agreed to

continue cooperation in the promotion of world peace and the

cultural development of impoverished nations. The details will be

followed up by the UNESCO Korea Committee and the Jogye Order

Department of Social Affairs. On this day, Ven. Jaseung presented

UNESCO a donation of $400,000 USD for relief aid in Haiti.

Ven. Jaseung said, “We had various approaches to help Haiti such

as building a school, but we made the donation to UNESCO because

we thought it was a more effective use of the money. Irina Bokova

said, Giving directly this donation to UNESCO is a sign of the trust

you have in UNESCO. We will use this money for the Haiti children

with humble and diligent service. We will also let the Haiti

government know of this contribution. I’m very grateful for this

symbol of philanthropy.”

Dharma Service held at Flushing

Adharma service was held at Flushing, New York with over

1000 in attendance on September 19. This was sponsored by

the Korean American Sangha Association and the New York Korean

Temples Association.

Ven. Jaseung Visits UN

Jogye Order President Ven. Jaseung visited UN Secretary General Ban Ki-mun at the UN headquarters in NewYork

to discuss world peace.

Secretary Ban said, “I’m happy that you have come to America to plan good works in relation to Korean Buddhism.

I’m grateful for the great contribution to world peace and unity by the Korean Buddhist community.” Ven. Jaseung

said to the Secretary General, “I was happy and proud to hear of your efforts in international relief and world peace.

Winter 2010 32

Ven. Jaseung Visits America

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4

Jogye Order Feature Ⅰ

Ven. Jaseung said in his dharma talk, “Buddhism is a faith and teaching to tame the mind. More powerful than a

Roman soldier’s sword is the faith of Koreans. A Buddhist is one who believes, follows, and carries out the Buddha’s

teachings.” Ven. Jaseung also gave out gifts during the service. There were over 20 ovations during his address.

Following the dharma service, there was an awards ceremony for Jo Il-hwan, Dongguk University honorary

professor and Kim Jeong-kwang, the first president of the New York Laity Association for their contribution to the

promotion of Korean Buddhism and the development of the Buddhist community.

Ven. Jaseung Visits Columbia University

Ven. Jaseung visited Columbia University for a meeting with professors and students from the Department of East

Asian Studies on September 20. Robert Heims, the Dean of the Department of East Asian Studies; Charles

Armstrong, Professor of Korean Modern History; Haboush Jahyun Kim, Professor of Korean History; Bernard Fau,

Professor of Japanese Buddhism; Chun-fang Yu, Professor of Chinese Buddhism; Michael Como, Professor of

Japanese Buddhism; and students met with Ven. Jaseung to exchange ideas.

The professors said that they will do their best to assist in promulgating Korean Buddhism within American society

and academia. They also expressed their wish for American students go to Korea and study at the Jogye Order.

Ven. Jaseung Spends Chuseok at Borisa Temple

Ven. Jaseung also spent Chuseok (Korean Harvest Festival) at Borisa Temple in New Jersey on September 22

with representatives from the Jogye Order, Korean temple food preparation team, members from Office of

Culture and Tourism, the press team, and employees of a travel agency. After a ceremony, Ven. Jaseung spoke to the

Borisa Temple members over refreshments. L

Winter 2010 5

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6 Winter 2010 7

Jogye Order Feature Ⅱ

“KoreanTemple Food Experience”held at New York

The Jogye Order held “Korean Temple Food Experience” event in

Manhattan, New York on September 20 with over 500 in

attendance. The media along with many renowned artists, chefs, and

celebrities attended to taste Korean food, which has a 1700 year-old

tradition. Ven. Jaseung and his visiting team attended along with Yoo

Sun-taek, the wife of Ban Ki-mun and New York Consul General, Kim

Yeong-mok.

Several nuns and one monk, renowned for their culinary skills,

personally prepared the temple food. Mr. Jeong Jae-deok (a chef for

Baru, the Jogye Order vegetarian restaurant) and Hwang Ji-hee (Korean

Traditional Temple Food Research Team) also contributed to the

preparation.

There were 43 different dishes such as sushi, lotus leaf wrapped rice,

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New York Consul General Kim Yeong-mok said, “I ate with

many Americans today and heard many compliments such as easy

to eat, delicious, and good appearance. I’ve been to many American

restaurants, and this food could compete with any of them.”

There were many volunteers, CIA students, Korean American

Buddhists, and the visiting monks, nuns, and chefs from Korea who

came together to make this event a success. The “chef nuns” could

not have done this without all the helping hands. After the event,

there was a group photo and everyone celebrated the event to show

the world the goodness of Korean temple food. L

and persimmon kimchi. All dishes were 100% vegetarian. Most dishes were very simple

without a lot of spices. Even the colors were natural to give a modest appearance. The general

response from the New York participants was very positive, often repeating the word,

“wonderful.” Although many participants were not vegetarian, everyone seemed to enjoy the

clean and fresh taste of Korean temple food. Mathew Conway, a food importer said, “I agree

(with temple food philosophy) with thinking about where the food comes from, what we put

into our body, and how it affects the environment.”

Department Head at CIA, the American culinary school, Brad Bonds said, “Korean temple

food is very appealing because of the long history and interesting ingredients. I think it has the

potential to be very popular, not only among New Yorkers but to the entire world.” Member of

the U.S. House of Representative, Charles Rangle said, “I’ve enjoyed Korean food for a long

time. Today’s temple food, being the best of Korean food, will surely be popular with

Americans.”

The Korean and local media were so busy with interviews; they tasted the food later than

everyone. After sampling, the general sentiment was that Korean temple food would contribute

to the world movement of changing from a meat-eating diet to a vegetarian diet.

Ven. Jaseung said, “We should not eat food just to satisfy our desires, nor should we eat to

preserve our health at the expense of the lives of living beings or the environment. We

shouldn’t take lightly the lives of living beings. We should eat with gratitude for the all beings

that brought together even a single meal.”

Ven. Hyotan, Director of Jogey Order Department of Cultural Affairs, was in charge of this

event. She said, “Temple food is healthy, vegetarian food, which has been prepared, thinking

about the world community. It is a food with gratitude and love for all life.”

Winter 2010 98

Jogye Order Feature Ⅱ

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With 500 in attendance, each nation took turns chanting in the respective languages for the conference dharma

service. Thereafter, the representatives from the three nations offered their speeches for world peace.

In the afternoon, there was an academic symposium. With over 300 in attendance, three representatives from each

country made presentations. Hyejeong Jeongsa, head of the Jingak Order made the keynote speech. Jogye Order’s

Ven. Woncheol, Taego Order’s Ven. Neunghae, Cheontae Order’s Ven. Muwon made the presentations.

Ven. Woncheol said in his presentation, “We live in a time where our three nations live together and through the

expanding cultural market, we live a single community. Our three nations share more now then we have ever. Our

three nations are coming closer to forming a single community. Buddhism is at the foundation of this unity and the

cultural and regional solidarity of EastAsia. Our three nation’s teenagers, young adults, college students, lay

Buddhists, and the sangha must share together the wealth of East Asia to raise the banner of unity. Inthefuture, East

Asia will become the focus of the world.”

In the keynote speech, Hyejeong Jeongsa said, “Our three nations should understand the importance of

Buddhism’s interdependence for the development of human culture.”

Ven. Jaseung Visits Shanghai’s Yonghwa Jeongsa Dharma Center Ven. Jaseung left Wuxi on the morning of October 20 to arrive in Shanghai. He visited Yonghwa Jeongsa Dharma

Center in Shanghai. Over 30 Korean Buddhists came out to meet with Ven. Jaseung. The members of this center

expressed their gratitude, “It is very encouraging to have Ven. Jaseung visit our center despite his busy schedule.”

Ven. Jaseung told the center members, “Anyone can understand and take to heart the Buddha’s teaching to teach

others. Although you live away from Korea, I hope you will keep the Buddha’s teachings in your heart and live

faithfully.” Currently, this center has no resident monk or nun. L

10 Winter 2010 11

13th Korea, China, Japan Buddhist GoodwillConference in Wuxi, China on October 19

Report Ⅰ

Buddhist leaders from Korea, China, and Japan met in Wuxi, China for the 13th Korea, China, Japan Buddhist

Goodwill Conference on October 19. Over 300 Buddhist leaders attended this conference to discuss ways to

bring about world peace.

Ven. Jaseung, head of the Jogye Order attended the conference. In his speech, he said, “Here in North-East Asia, where

Korea, China, and Japan are situated, there is a very sensitive military and political situation due to North Korea’s nuclear

weapons problem and the recent submarine incident. For peace in North-East Asia as well and world peace, these

nervous situations must be resolved.” He continued, “We Buddhists from Korea, China, and Japan can find the answers

in the Buddha’s teachings of compassion and respect for life. It is a critical time for the Buddhist communities from

Korea, China, and Japan to think deeply about our role for peace locally and harmony in the world.”

Ven. Chuain, head of the Chinese Buddhist Association said, “We have seen great loss in human society and

destruction between humanity and nature through friction, conflict, and frequent disasters. During this time, the

Buddhist ideas of compassion and equanimity seem more relevant and precious. We must pray to the Three Jewels for

world peace and happiness. Let the Buddhist of our three nations work together in diligence for world peace, human

happiness, and harmony between nature and humanity.”

Ven. Gobayashi Rusho, the representative from Japan said, “We the Buddhists of the three nations must form the

foundation of world peace. I hope this conference can be a fresh beginning toward world peace.”

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12

The Jogye Order International Seon Center is

now open to be a center to promulgate

Korean traditional culture and Korean Buddhist

meditation (Ganhwa-seon) to the world. The

opening ceremony for the newly built center in

Seoul was held on November 15. Jogye Order

President Ven. Jaseung, members of the Council of

Elders Ven. Jeongmu and Ven. Jongha, Director of

the Bureau of Education Ven. Hyeoneung,

Director of the Bureau of Dharma Propagation

Ven. Hyechong, President of the Central Council

Ven. Boseon, National Assemblymen Choi

Byeong-guk and Jo Yun-seon, and local officials

and other monks and nuns with over 1000 people

attended the ceremony.

Ven. Jaseung said, “Of course, this center is to

share Korean Buddhism with the world, but I

hope it will also serve the local people

regardless of religious background.” He

continued, “The opening of the International

Seon Center, which will become the signpost to

share Korean Buddhism with the world, is a

very meaningful event. The purpose of holding

the World Religious Leaders Forum in 2013 and

the construction of the International Seon Center

are one and same.”

President of the Central Council Ven. Boseon

said in his congratulatory speech, “This center is

a place for the world to experience our nation’s

great spiritual culture. I hope our cultural legacy

will enrich the lives of the people of the world.”

International Seon Center Abott Ven. Hyeonjo

said, “The International Seon Center is for

Koreans and foreigners to easily encounter Korean

traditional and Buddhist culture. The Seon Center

Winter 2010 13

Report Ⅱ

Jogye OrderInternational Seon Center Opens


































319-11, Shinjeong 6 dong, Yangcheon gu, Seoul(in front of Mokdong Middle School)

Tel. 02- 2650-2212 Fax. 02-2650-2201www.seoncenter.or.kr

“To share Korean Buddhism with the world”

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hopes to be a place for a friendly exchange of ideas

and agreeable coexistence. The center aspires to

widely promulgate the richness and excellence of

the Korean spiritual culture.”

International Seon Center to Widely

Promulgate Korean Spiritual Culture

The International Seon Center will be the main

place for promulgating Ganhwa-seon (Zen

meditation), which is the origin of the Korean

spiritual legacy, to the world. Its role is to transmit

Korean traditional and Buddhist culture with the

world. Let us examine the current programs and

layout of this new Seon center.

It occupies the area of 2,110m2 with a total floor

area of 10,600.34m2. It has seven floors above

ground and 3 floors under ground. It features a

mediation hall, a dharma hall, a dormitory for

templestay, and a cultural center. It runs programs

to experience Korean Buddhist culture such as

English dharma talks, Seon meditation, templestay,

lectures on Seon culture, temple food cooking

class, and more.

The great emphasis for the new center is “world

promulgation of Ganhwa-seon.” The mission is to

spread throughout the world the main practice of

Korean Buddhism. Ganhwa-seon (Korean Seon

meditation) will be taught at Geumcha Seonwon

(Here and Now Meditation Hall) within the new

center. In addition, the center will hold academic

seminars on Seon meditation, inter-religious

exchanges, exchanges with other practice centers,

and forums on practice methods. In these ways, the

14

Report Ⅱ

Seon center will contribute to spreading widely

Ganhwa-seon and transmitting Korean Buddhist

practice methods.

The Seon center will also have the very popular

cultural program, templestay. The center will have

templestay for foreigners as well as a “temple life”

program. The center will welcome foreigners

living in Korea as well as tourists to learn about

Korean Buddhism. There is also an “information

center for foreigners” within the building.

The International Seon Center is not just to

promulgate Buddhist culture. It will serve as a

“welcome place” for Koreans and foreigners to

encounter Korean culture. The center will also

have Sunday dharma talks and dharma classes for

children. The center is a place for friendly

exchange of ideas in both the Korean and English

languages.

In addition, the International Seon Center will

have temple food cooking classes to promote

Korean temple food, which is good for the

environment. Ven. Hyeonjo said, “We will have a

program to experience firsthand temple food,

which is becoming more popular around the

world. We will do our best to make temple food

more popular in everyday life, in the community,

and the world.” There will also be diverse

programs for the local people. L

Winter 2010 15

■ Ven. Jaseung, President of Jogye Order

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Director of Social Affairs Ven. Hyekyung said, “The reason for coinciding

the conference with the expo and the Lotus Lantern Festival is that it would be

a good way to show the world the beauty and richness of Korean Buddhist

tradition and to promote Korean Buddhism. We will have a tentative six-day

visit plan with half the time spent in Yeosu City and the conference, and the

other days to see the Lotus Lantern Festival.”

Jogye Order plans to make strong efforts to make the conference a success.

In this way, the achievement can be carried over to the 2013 World Religious

Leaders Conference, also hosted by the Jogye Order.

The WFB first began in May of 1950 in Sri Lanka as Buddhist

representatives from 27 countries met to transcend sectarian barriers. This year

marks the 60 year anniversary. Now, 153 WFB branches in 40 countries exist

to unify Buddhists from all traditions and uphold the Buddha’s teachings. The

conference is held every two years. There are seven WFB branches in Korea

including the Jogye Order and the Jogye Order Central Council of the Laity.

Korea hosted the 17th WFB Conference in 1990 in Seoul. Now the

conference returns after 22 years. The opportunity to host the WFB conference

will be a chance to showcase the excellence of Korean Buddhism and share

with the world Korean Buddhist cultural treasures such as templestay, temple

food, and the Lotus Lantern Festival.

The 25th WFB Conference, with the theme “Reconciliation Through the

Teachings & Buddha,” was held on November 13 in Colombo. Along with the

conference, a Board of Directors Meeting, a symposium, and the 60-year

Commemoration Ceremony were held. More than 500 representatives from

North Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, and other

countries attended this year’s conference. L

16

Report Ⅲ

Jogye Order to Host 2012 WFB Conference

The 2012 World Fellowship of Buddhist Conference will be held in Korea hosted by the Jogye Order. The decision

came during the 25th WFB Conference on November 13 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The 26th WFB Conference will be organized by the Jogye Order and the Jogye Order’s Central Council of the

Laity. The plan is to have the conference coincide with the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu City and the very popular Lotus

Lantern Festival.

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Ven. Jaseung, other monastics, and over 150 Jogye Order employees

delivered coal briquettes and rice to people in need at Gaemi Maeul, a

poor area of Seoul. These briquettes are used in the winter to heat the floors

for warmth.

On the morning of November 5, Jogye Order employees met at the

entrance of Gaemi Maeul to be briefed about how to proceed giving out the

briquettes by Yun Yu-seon, the office manager of the organization, “Sharing

Coal Briquettes in Korea.” Ven. Jaseung said, “We must use our body, more

than words to deliver these briquettes. Let’s do our best.”

A local government official Mun Seok-jin, who also came out to help,

said, “I’m very grateful to the Jogye Order monastics for coming out to

practice compassion.” From 10 a.m., the monks and Jogye Order

employees began delivering the briquettes to the families in Gaemi Maeul.

Ven. Jaseung personally delivered briquettes for about an hour and

offered words of encouragement to the neighborhood folks including a 75

year-old Lee Mou. He said, “Although things may be difficult, please take

heart.” Mr. Lee responded, “I’m very grateful that the monastics personally

came. This is the first time that the Jogye Order President has come to our

18

Engaged Buddhism

Jogye Order ContinuesTradition of Offering CoalBriquettes to the Poor

neighborhood.” After delivering coal briquettes and rice by hand, the

Jogye Order monastics and employees went to the nearby park to eat

boxed lunches. Then, from 1:30 p.m., they began again to deliver more

briquettes.

They delivered a total of 21,000 briquettes and 700 sacks (20kg) of

rice with a total cost of around $26,000. Jogye Order head Ven. Jaseung,

Director of the Bureau of Education Ven. Hyeoneung, Director of the

Bureau of Dharma Propagation Ven. Hyechong, Director of Department

of Administrative Affairs Ven. Yeongdam, Director of Department of

Social Affairs Ven. Hyekyung, Director of Department of Judiciary

Affairs Ven. Sangun, Chair of the Social Welfare Foundation Ven. Daeo,

Jogyesa Temple Aboot Ven. Tojin, and other monastics and Jogye Orders

employees participated on this day. L

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20

October 27 marks the 30-year anniversary of the government’s illegal actions against the Buddhist

community. Now, the Buddhist community demands the truth to be revealed, the restoration of honor for

the victims, and compensation for victims. To commemorate the 30-year anniversary, there was a dharma

service and a meeting of the victims at Jogyesa Temple on October 27.

During the service, Ven. Jaseung said, “The

October 27 incident is an example of the

government using illegal violence against the

Buddhist community ignoring laws that protect

freedom, prohibition against discrimination,

and the separation of state and religion; and

which destroys the government structure.” He

continued, “Regarding this incident, the truth

must be revealed, the honor of the victims must

be restored, and compensation for the victims

must be paid. In addition, the law, which was

forfeited, must be restored to its original

standing.”

Ven. Jaseung continued, “The government must acknowledge past mistakes, repent, and apologize and make

efforts for such incidents to never occur again. This will form the basis for national unity.”

Ven. Beopta representing the victims said, “The new governmental military power, wanting to usurp the

power of the people, stormed Korean temples, first in the early morning of October 27 and then again on

October 30 1980. The dharma halls were trampled on by soldier boots.” He continued, “The government must

repent sincerely, and the Jogye Order must make efforts to prepare a place to educate the posterity on historical

facts, heal the hurt of the victims, and restore the honor of the victims.”

Representative Son Hak-gyu from the Democratic Party expressed his sympathy and said that the government

will do their best to support the requests of the Buddhist community from both parties.

Mr. Son said, “We express our sincere condolences to the monastics and the Buddhist community for the

defamation and hardships incurred due to the illegal governmental actions. As a politician, I feel very sorry for

the defamation and hardships incurred by a religious group, regardless of time and perpetrator. I feel the great

responsibility of the government. We will do our best to restore the honor of the victims and prepare policies for

laws to be passed in this regard.”

The Director of the Committee for the Restoration of Honor for Victims of the Oct. 27 Incident, Ven.

Yeongdam said, “Our committee understands the gravity of our role in planning the restoration of honor for the

Winter 2010 21

Focus

30 Year Anniversary ofOctober 27 Incident1980 Military Regime Targeted Buddhist Community

로터스본문2011다시 2010.12.28 2:11 PM 페이지20

victims. We will do our best to compensate medical costs for the monastic victims and construction of the History

Education Center.” Ven. Yeongdam added that the committee will pursue the three requests of revealing the truth,

restoration of honor, and compensation for victims.

In the meeting with the victims, Ven. Yeongdam said, “The truth must be revealed in exactness and the restoration

of honor must be carried out. There is no restoration of honor without compensation.”

The dharma service was attended by the head of the Jogye Order Ven. Jaseung, member of the council of elders

Ven. Myeongseon, Doseonsa Temple Presiding Director Ven. Hyeseong, Director of the Bureau of Education Ven.

Hyeoneung, Director of the Bureau of Dharma Propagation Ven. Hyechong, Dongguk University head of the seminary

Ven. Beopta, President of Jogye Order Laity Association Kim Eui-jeong as well as high-ranking government officials.

What is the October 27 Incident?New Military Government Searches Temples and Takes Away Monks and Nuns

On October 27, 1980, the Korean Government illegally searched Buddhist temples and forcibly hauled away monks

and nuns. This is the first time the Buddhist community was singly sought out and oppressed in modern Korean

history. The government, which had newly seized power, searched 5731 temples and took away 1929 Buddhists to be

interrogated as a “purification movement” After the incident, there were distorted and exaggerated reports, and

various false rumors circulated to cause immense damage to the Buddhist community. By these severe actions of the

government, the human rights of numerous monks and nuns were violated, which led to a dramatic decrease in the

number of Buddhist faithful as well as the Buddhist community losing social authority. Accordingly, the October 27

Incident is an abuse of government authority, which was a violation of religious freedom and human rights. L

22

Focus

Winter 2010 23

Cartoon

|| by BBaaee JJoonngg--hhoooonn([email protected])

로터스본문2011다시 2010.12.28 2:11 PM 페이지22

24 Winter 2010 25

Dharma Ⅰ

Empowering Yourself

The most ideal situation is for a spirit to move onto a place of favorable karma. A crow’s nest is like a

castle to a spirit that has to rebirth as a crow, so the spirit goes into that nest and appears as a baby crow.

The spirit has met its proper cycles as a result of prior karma.

But there is also the karmic power of ignorance and bewilderment, the darkness of not seeing things

as they are and not recognizing the proper place for rebirth.

There are two ways of overcoming such ignorance. One is self-guidance and the other is sprit

guidance. The power of self-guidance is accomplished by practicing directly throughout your life.

People who study sutras, meditate, chant, and do other practices will not fall into the realms of delusion

and bewilderment after death, The spirit will see clearly and rebirth itself in the proper situation. Even

those who haven’t practiced regularly but have kept a single Buddhist verse or teaching deep in their

hearts will not fall into the unfortunate realms.

In Korea, another method is to participate in the “Passage to Paradise” Ritual, the Yesujae(“practice

in advance”) that is held in most Korean temples every third of fourth year when there is a leap month

by the lunar calendar. It is a very colorful, day-long ritual and it serves as a solid foundation of merit for

good karma in the future for both the living and the spirits. But mere participation in the ritual does not

earn such merit. We have to develop the merit and good karma by taking the teaching of the Buddha to

heart beyond death right through to the next rebirth. The ritual is a great aid to this. The Buddha gave us

this ritual to plant within us the seed of enlightenment. If we study and practice our way towards

enlightenment, we have no need to fear death or the cycles of samsara. We can calmly accept the fact

that we are about to change clothes. We develop new hope to live in a newer environment more

conductive to attaining enlightenment.

If we approach our practice with such an attitude, we can in fact directly determine our own path after

death. L

All forms of life dread and fear death. If only we didn’t have to die. But all beings must eventually

die, and all things must eventually decompose. Yet death and disintegration, rather than being the

end, are just another beginning. Because there is death there is new life. In the old days, people talked of

death as just another change of clothes. In modern terms, It’s like getting a new car to replace the old

one.

Our new clothes or our new car depend entirely on the karma we have accumulated and on what we

seek. We find a cycle? either a more favorable or a less favorable environment? on the basis of that

Karma. People who live good lives and make wishes and vows for the future have no

reason to be concerned. However, there are many times when we think about the

lives of the deceased and feel that they have not moved on to a freer and better

existence because of the unfavorable karma they may have accumulated.

It is precisely for these reasons that the Buddha taught methods for urging

spirits on to higher planes of existence. These mystical methods are available

to us to tap into the great compassion of the buddhas and bodhisattvas for

ourselves and for our departed lived ones.

Self-guidance and

Spirit Guidance|| by SSeeoonn MMaasstteerr IIllttaa translation by BBrriiaann BBaarrrryy

Everyday Korean Buddhist Practices

로터스본문2011다시 2010.12.28 2:11 PM 페이지24

Winter 2010 27

Once there was an old robber. When he felt his

inevitable death coming nearer and nearer, he

decided that he couldn’t leave this world without

passing on his lifelong skills and secrets of success.

He wanted to pass on this accumulated expertise to at

least one person, even if it were his own son.

So one night, the robber took his son along to “get

a feel for the night dew.” Nowadays, thieves probably

set their schedules around the most popular television

programs when people are intently distracted, but in

the old days they inevitably worked in the pitch black

of a moonless night. And in the old days there were

no really luxurious homes, so the most popular

choices for robbers were homes without watchdogs,

regardless of the height of the wall to be scaled.

So father and son first chose a house. Then they

nimbly made their way over the wall and headed

straight for the storeroom in which sat a very large

rice chest. The father opened the huge chest and

pushed his son into it. Then suddenly he shut the door

and locked the chest with the nearby padlock. He

then ran out of the storeroom and as he leapt back

over the wall, he started screaming “Thief! Thief!”

Startled, the family tore through the house looking

for a thief. The robber’s son himself was no less

stunned than the family members. Feeling his father

had betrayed him, he was at a loss as what to do. But

then he became so completely outraged at this father

that he swore to get out of this predicament and tell

his father off.

Stuck in the rice chest, he finally started squealing

like a rat. The owner opened the storeroom door and

glanced around but didn’t see a thing. The robber’s

son let out another squeal. This led the owner over to

the rice chest and he carefully unlocked it. As soon as

he did, the robber’s son leapt out of the chest, then

out the storeroom door, back over the wall and down

the path. There was a well on the path up ahead and

26

Dharma Ⅱ

Zen and the Art ofRobbery

as the son ran by it in the dark, he plopped a large

boulder into it. Those in hot pursuit heard the splash

and figured that the thief had fallen into the well and

drowned, so they returned home.

The son arrived at his home out of breath. He

became even more indignant at seeing his father

sitting there completely calm. He was about to

confront him when the father, with a broad grin of

satisfaction on his face, said, “You escaped the trap I

set for you! You’re worthy of carrying on my trade!”

And this is the way the father had taught his son,

without a word, the tricks of the trade. He taught by

providing experience rather than words so that the

son could figure out the secrets himself.

The story comes from the Chinese Sung Dynasty

Monk Fayan who was trying to explain Zen. The

point is that Zen is not something you learn from

outside, from education, or from theory; rather, it’s

something that you have to experience. And it’s not

something to be understood from an objective point

of view; it’s something that has to be intuitively

grasped. It’s the process of awakening to your

limitless inner potential through complete immersion.

That is why they say Zen is experience rather than

knowledge. Zen becomes a living thing when this

unlimited creativity expresses itself to others through

the warmth of compassion and the light of wisdom.

When Zen is something that lives only in a

meditation center, it is no different than being caught

in a rice chest. It becomes a creative function only

when it leaps out of the chest and makes its way into

the world of people. (1977) L

|| by VVeenn.. BBeeooppjjeeoonngg translated by BBrriiaann BBaarrrryy

Zen and the Art ofRobbery

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not an intellectual question, but a sincere longing to know the true nature of the self. This practice leads directly to

the experiential understanding of the nature of self and ultimately to realization & the ultimate truth.

9. Ascetic practice is highly valued in Korean Buddhism. Monks and nuns rise at 3 a.m. in most Korean temples for a

rigorous day of practice. There is ruggedness and strictness to Korean temple life. Even the grey color of the

monastic robes reflects this mentality. Some examples of Korean Buddhist asceticism are: Yongmaeng Jeongjin

(ferocious practice: each retreat season in most meditation temples, practitioners don t sleep at all for a week or

longer), Jangjwa Bulwa (not lying down to sleep), finger burning (this is done as an offering to the Buddha or as a

sign of dedication to the monastic life), etc.

10. Monastic robes are often very elegant and made of the best materials. Koreans monastics are often criticized for

their expensive robes made of fine hemp, cotton, or silk. However, the natural materials also have a practical value

(such as coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter) as well as aesthetic appeal. Like Catholic priests in

Europe, Buddhist monks in Korea play the role of clergy. Such robes lend to the distinction and importance of the

clergy’s responsibility. These robes have become an inseparable part of Korean Buddhist monastic culture.

11. Korean tea tradition is an inseparable part of the Korean Buddhist culture. There is not a single temple without a

complete tea set and various wonderful teas. The tea pots and cups are uniquely Korean with an earthy and slightly

rough appearance, which reflects the Korean Seon values of naturalness and simplicity.

12. Ulyeok (work practice) is an indispensable part of Korean Seon. The Seon tradition values work as much as

eating; as the saying goes, “no work, no eat.” As Buddhism came to East Asia, farming was done on the temples

for sustenance of the monks. In Korea, farming became a Seon practice with the adage, “Seon and farming are not

two.” Ulyeok is part of the daily routine of Korean temple life. It is a way to purify Karma. Korean Seon adheres

to the adage that “every human being should physically labor every day.” This is good for the body and mind.

13. Process of becoming a monastic in the Jogye Order is not at all easy but certainly rewarding. Every prospective

monastic begins as a hangja (postulant) and must do manual labor for the temple for at least five months. Then,

they go to the hangja training course for four weeks to qualify as a novice. Then, a novice monastic must go

through four years of training in one of the following institutions: Sutra School, Meditation School, or Monastic or

Buddhist University. Then, after a one-week training course, they receive full monastic ordination. It is this

difficult process that gives the monks a sense of pride and dignity of wearing the monastic robes.

14. Buddha’s Birthday (eighth day of fourth lunar month) is the biggest day of the year for Korean Buddhists. It is

the Buddhist Christmas, when the streets and temples are adorned with colorful lanterns. It is when every

Buddhists (even closet Buddhists) make their way to the temple for dharma service. This is the best time of the

year to see and experience Buddhist culture in Korea. The Lotus Lantern Festival with its grand and lavish parades

and activities takes place around this time.

15. Korean Buddhist art is a unique heritage of Korean culture. In fact, most of Korea’s cultural properties are

Buddhist. Korean temples are veritable art museums with diverse paintings, sculptures, and designs. Likewise,

museums are filled with Buddhist art. L

Winter 2010 29

1. Korean temples are beautiful. They blend with nature as if Mother Nature herself built them. They are cradled by

the mountains and replenished by brooks and rivers. The temple buildings are simple yet ornate. One could hardly

find a more serene and beautiful sanctuary anywhere in the world.

2. Temple food is delicious, nutritious, and good for the environment and living beings. The 100% vegetarian food

served at Korean temples are prepared from fresh vegetable often grown on temple grounds. The preparation is

often simple without many spices. Temple food never uses the five pungent vegetables from the onion family,

which are supposed to hinder meditation practice. Artificial flavorings are also never used for a clean and light

taste.

3. The Seon (meditation tradition) has an unbroken lineage back to the founder of Seon, Bodhidharma. The tradition

of the three-month summer and winter retreats are maintained at over 100 temples with over 1000 monastics

engaging in retreat.

4. Baru Gongyang (formal meal) is a wonderful way to eat. It is taken in four wooden bowls and nothing is wasted.

It is itself a silent meditation.

5. A pure monastic lineage exists, which honors the Vinaya of Bhikshus. Korea is a Mahayana country, but its

adherence to the Vinaya and respect for the monastic sangha resembles the Theravada countries such as Thailand

and Myanmar. Monks and nuns conduct themselves with dignity and restraint to reflect the noble Buddhist lineage.

6. Form and etiquette are emphasized in Korean Buddhism. There is a purity, straightness, and simplicity to the

appearance of Korean Buddhism, which is to reflect the uprightness and wholesomeness of mind. Outwardly

straight and inwardly pure is the tenet of Korean Buddhism.

7. Korean Buddhism offers diverse practices. Along with Seon (the meditation practice, which is the backbone of the

KB’s practice lineage), there are diverse devotional practices for monastics and the laity. Daily chanting (Yebul),

Yeombul (deity practice, praying to a particular Buddha or Bodhisattva by chanting the name), bowing (such as 108

daily bows or 3000 bows), reciting the sutras (gangyeong), copying sutras (sagyeong), intensive prayers (jeong-

geon kido, chanting intensively for 21 days, 100 days, etc.), and more.

8. Ganhwaseon is the meditation practice of Korean Seon. Korea has uniquely preserved and actively engages in this

practice. Ganhwaseon means to observe the hwadu, which is the ultimate inquiry. The Hwadu is a sincere and

intense questioning into the nature of self and reality. For example, the most common hwadu is “who am I?” This is

Korean Buddhism Highlight

15 Virtues of Korean Buddhism|| by VVeenn.. YYoonnggssuu

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1. 10 Year Anniversary of Government Employee Buddhist AssociationThe ten-year anniversary dharma service for the Government Employee Buddhist Association was held on October 10 at

Naksansa Temple with Ven. Hyechong, the head of the Jogye Order Bureau of Dharma Propagation and over 1000 in

attendance.

The Government Employee Buddhist Association was established in 2000 with over 700 government employees from 47

government organizations attending the inauguration ceremony at Woljeongsa Temple. Since then, the association has

held numerous dharma services, templestays, and pilgrimages to share friendship and discuss life as Buddhist employees

of the government. There are now sub-organizations in all 16 major Korean cities and the membership is over 10,000 from

over 160 government organizations.

On this day, members pledged to carry out government work with propriety and efficiency as well as work for the

development of the association through continued cooperation and solidarity. Ha Bok-dong, president of the association

said, “By the strength of the faith and active participation of the members, we are able to have a ten-year anniversary,

which has seen great progress throughout the years. The association will continue to progress through increasing

membership, creating more sub-organizations, and maintaining good ties with local temples.”

Ven. Hyechong advised the members to live a life of a bodhisattva such as Kwanseum Bosal. He said that especially since

this service is held at Naksansa Temple, one of the main temples for Kwanseum Bosal. Ven. Hyechong said, “We

Buddhists must espouse the principle of Kwanseum Bosal’s compassion, which looks after and fulfills the needs of

beings. The path to true happiness is to always give to our neighbors, society, and nation. The Government Buddhist

Association will surely endure if we follow the association’s motto of doing our government’s work just as Buddha would.”

There were also awards given out to the sub-organizations for outstanding activities. Naksansa Temple also gave a

donation for the progress of the association. Each participant also received prayer beads and a book written by Naksansa

Temple’s Jeongnyeom Sunim.

2. Mahabodhi Society’s Ven. Rewata Visits Ven. Jaseung.Ven. Rewata, Secretary General of India’s Mahabodhi Society paid a visit to Ven. Jaseung at the Jogye Order

administration building on November 4 to request for more inter-exchange between Korea and India.

Ven. Rewata said, “I’m visiting Korea for the Korean publication of a biography of Ven. Anakarika Dharmapala, the

founder of the Mahabodhi Society. Ven. Dharmapala devoted his life to the revival of Buddhism in India.”The book

is titled “Pioneer of the Revival of Buddhism in India.”Ven. Rewata expressed his wishes for continued good will

and cultural exchange between Korean and Indian Buddhism.

Ven. Jaseung said, “We have carefully enshrined the Buddha relic at Jogyesa Temple that Ven. Dharmapala offered

to the Korean Buddhist community. Let’s work together for world peace and mutual success.”He continued, “The

Jogye Order is organizing the 2013 World Religious Leaders Forum. I hope Indian Buddhism will take interest and

help in this preparation.”

30

3. Jogye Order Offers Rice to North Korea at 3rd Year Anniversary of Shingyesa TempleThe Jogye Order held the three-year anniversary of the restoration of Shingyesa Temple on Geumgang Mountain in

North Korea on October 13. The Jogye Order Offices for the Promotion of National Unity offered relief aid materials

at a spring water plant on Geumgang Mountain. Thereafter, they offered 30 tones of rice to North Korea’s Joseon

Buddhist Solidarity at Shingyesa Temple. In the afternoon, there was a dharma service to commemorate the three-

year anniversary. Next is an excerpt from the aspiration prayer from the service:

“We are all descendents of the same forefathers. We have worked toward unification together, and together we will

prosper in a unified Korea. We Buddhists from the North and South must go forth together with courage and

determination on the path toward unification.”

4. World Archival Experts Visits Jogye Order ArchivesWorld archival experts visited the Jogye Order Archives at the administration building on October 15. Professor

Anne Jillian from UCLA’s Archival Studies Department, Helen Sweneton, researcher from England’s HSCB Bank

Archives, Peter Blum, director of the Heidelberg Archives, and other specialists visited to tour the Jogye Order

Archives. They also had lunch at Baru (Jogye Order restaurant) followed by a PowerPoint presentation on the Jogye

Order Archives.

The Jogye Order Archives began organizing records in 2000 to store Korean Buddhist and Jogye Order records

using modern archival methods. The archives officially opened its doors in 2004 and now has plans to expand the

archives to include firstly the 24 district head temples and eventually all of the more than 2500 Jogye Order temples.

The Jogye Order archives use modern equipment to store and organize its records and artifacts such as the

temperature maintainer, which keeps the storage rooms always at a moderate temperature and dry. The archives

also employ professional archivists to organize and manage the system. Professor Jillian commented how

impressive the archives were, especially for a religious organization.

Korea has historically kept very good records in a traditional manner such as the 84,000 wood panels of the

Buddhist canon at Haeinsa Temple, which is one of several Korean record artifacts that are UNESCO designated

world cultural artifacts. However, modern record keeping is relatively new and the Jogye Order is on the forefront of

the new archival systems. Korea has now rapidly adopted the modern archival methods in the fields of government,

commerce, private sectors, and religion. The Jogye Order has a sound beginning in this field and plans to expand

and improve the archival system to preserve Korean Buddhist culture and Jogye Order history.

These world archival experts are in Korea for a two-day conference on Archival Studies at Hankuk University of

Foreign Studies.

Winter 2010 31

Jogye Order News

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32

Jogye Order News

5. Ven. Jaseung Visits Victims of Atomic BombVen. Jaseung visited the House of Peace, center for victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs to offer

words of encouragement. Ven. Jaseung offered a monetary donation and said, “I hope this will help a little the

victims of the atomic bomb.”In addition, Ven. Jaseung has begun a fundraising to build a rehabilitation center for

2011. He also said that he will personally buy 100 pyeong (330m2).

The House of Peace opened on March 1 of this year in Hapcheon County to support second generation victims of

the atomic bomb. This is the first project of the “With Asia,”an organization to help the underprivileged and poor in

and outside of Korea. This organization is headed by former director of Jogye Order Department of Social Affairs,

Ven. Jiwon.

There is a reason why this center was built in Hapcheon County. According to the 2010 census, of the 2600 victims

of the atomic bomb, 600 live in Hapcheon County. The Hapcheon County commissioner Ha Chang-hwan said,

“During the Japanese occupation, Koreans from Hapcheon County were forcibly relocated to Hiroshima. That is

why so many Hapcheon people became victims when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.”

Ven. Jaseung shook each person by the hand to encourage them to not lose courage.

6. Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism, Most Ven. Tep Vong visits Ven. JaseungMost Ven. Tep Vong, the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism visited Ven. Jaseung at the Jogye Order

administration building on September 28.

Ven. Jaseung said, “Korean weather is a little cold. Please take good care of your health, and I hope you will have a

safe visit of Korea. I hope the exchange between the Cambodian and Korean Buddhist communities will become

more active.”Most Ven. Tep Vong said, “Cambodian King Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen told me to relay

their best regards to you, Ven. Jaseung. I hope the relationship between our nation’s Buddhist communities will

strengthen.”

Most Ven. Tep Vong also said, “I heard that Cambodian international brides live happily in Korea. Now we have

become closer through blood relations. I hope our relationship will develop toward happiness.”He also requested

for the Korean Buddhist community to watch over the multicultural families.

Ven. Jaseung responded, “Our order will help where we can. I hope Korean Buddhism will engage in cultural

exchange with Theravada Buddhism. I hope our Buddhist communites can contribute to world peace.”Ven.

Jaseung also requested Most Ven. Tep Vong to relay his respects to the King and Prime Minister.

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