Won Buddhism-North Carolina

The Won Buddhism Meditation temple is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The temple welcomes all people interested in expanding opportunities for peace and happiness through training in many types of meditation and mindfulness practice. In the spirit of open community, we welcome everyone, regardless of nationality, culture, age, gender/sexual orientation, or spiritual background. All programs are in English. What is Won Buddhism? Founding Master Sotaesan Founding Master Sotaesan The name Won Buddhism (Won-Bul-Kyo) is a compound word in Korean for truth, enlightenment, and teaching. Won means circle and symbolizes the ultimate truth; Bul means enlightenment; Kyo means teaching the truth. Therefore, Won-Buddhism is the path that leads us to become enlightened to the truth. Sotaesan, the Founding Master of Won Buddhism, realized supreme enlightenment in 1916 in Korea, after many years of searching for the truth and doing many ascetic practices. He embraced the Buddha’s teaching, yet he modernized and revitalized the traditional Buddhadharma so that people in the secular world could use it to enrich their everyday lives. MIND PRACTICE Everything is of our mind’s creation. This is the essence of the Buddha’s teaching. This world and our lives are the manifestation of our minds. Using our minds skillfully is fundamental and the key to leading happy and successful lives. Through cultivating faith in the truth and practicing morality based on facts, Won Buddhism teaches us how to use our minds well. Won Buddhism teaches the source of blessings and how to create them. The source of blessings is the Dharmakaya (Truth) Buddha, or Fourfold Grace. All things are the manifestation of the graces bestowed by heaven & earth, parents, fellow beings, and laws & universal principles. Merits arise when we repay our debt to them through gratitude.