Won Buddhism

Il Won Sang symbol in a Won Meditation Hall, Chapel Hill, NC
Won Buddhism
Hangul
원불교
Hanja
Revised RomanizationWonbulgyo
McCune–ReischauerWŏnbulgyo

Won Buddhism (Korean: 원불교; Hanja: 圓佛敎) is a modern Buddhist religion originating in Korea. The name "Won Buddhism" comes from the Korean words 원/圓 won ("circle") and 불교/佛敎 bulgyo ("Buddhism"), literally meaning "Round Buddhism" or interpreted as "Consummate Buddhism."[1] It can be regarded as either a syncretic new religious movement or a reformed Buddhism.[2] The stated goals of Won Buddhism are for people to realize their own innate Buddha nature and to save all sentient beings by serving others.[3] Emphasis is on interaction with daily life,[4] not “stilling the impulses,” but rather acting in accord with “appropriate desires.”[5] Won Buddhism's founder, Sotaesan (Bak Jungbin, 1891–1943) believed that overemphasis on the material world in relation to the spiritual world would create undue suffering; his founding motto was, “With this Great Opening of matter, let there be a Great Opening of spirit.”

  1. ^ "This is because [of]..." the enshrinement of Il Won Sang, the teaching of Fourfold Grace, and the aim of delivering all people "through the consummate great Way that accords with truth and reality," Scriptures, p. 533, and see Doctrine Chart below.
  2. ^ Pye, Michael, "Won Buddhism as a Korean New Religion," 140–141.
  3. ^ Clark, "Won Buddhism, pp. 299–301 in New Religions in Global Perspective, 300.
  4. ^ "Won Buddhism," The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, eds. Buswell & Lopez.
  5. ^ Baker, Don, "Constructing Korea's Won Buddhism as a New Religion," 62.