Won Buddhist Temple

What is Won Buddhism

The name Won Buddhism (Won-Bul-Kyo in Korean) is a compound word for truth, enlightenment, and teaching. Wonmeans circle and symbolizes the ultimate truth. Bul means enlightenment, and Kyo means teaching the truth. Therefore, Won Buddhism is the path that leads us to become enlightened to the truth. Won Buddhism is a religion that teaches us how to use our minds. Our lives and this world are the manifestations of our minds, so the knowledge of how to use our minds is fundamental and the key to leading happy and successful lives. 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 Truth Buddha, and merits arise when we repay our debt to them through gratitude. Welcome to our Temple Won Buddhism of Los Angeles, as the first Won Buddhist temple in USA, has served as a spiritual home for people in LA since 1972.

Won Buddhism of Los Angeles, which is also a west parish of Won Buddhism in America, is a place to learn and practice Won Buddhism. Won Buddhists follow Sotaesan’s vision of living the teaching of Buddha with simplicity and commitment in our highly modern and materialistic society. Won Buddhism, as a reformed Buddhism, embraces Buddha’s teaching and make it relevant and suitable to contemporary society. It aims to use Buddhist teachings and meditation practice for practical and useful purposes so that we can build One World Community and to realize oneness of life based on the Buddhist view of interdependency and the interconnectedness of all. Through the practice of Buddhist meditation and teachings we can: Increase our awareness and understanding of ourselves and those around us to live peacefully with wisdom and compassion.

See the Buddha in all things and to live in accordance with this insight. Uncover who we really are. The temple offers meditation and yoga class, Sunday Dharma Service(Korean) and retreats. Since moving to current location (401 Shatto pl. Los angeles) from 1717 S. Hoover St., Won Buddhist temple in LA has tried to make the temple more accessible and welcoming place to Americans as well as to Korean immigrants. All nationalities, cultures, ages and spiritual backgrounds are welcome to our Temple in the spirit of open community. Won Buddhism, by the year 2011, has established 56 temples(kyodangs) in nineteen countries in the world, among which twenty one temples has been established in the United States.