About IDIA
International Dharma Instructors’ Association
The International Dharma Instructors’ Association (IDIA)
established in 1998, is a missionary organization affiliated with the Bureau of Missionary Activities of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (JOKB). It is composed of lay ordained Buddhist members who have completed the training program and passed a qualifying exam.
Main activities
The IDIA members have striven to globalize the Korean Buddhism through propagation, cultural exchange, and voluntary work in Korea and worldwide.
Dharma Talk
We are in charge of organizing regular Monthly Dharma Talks (MDTs) in English. At the first and last month of each year, New Year’s and End-of-Year Dharma Talk Ceremonies are held in lieu of MDTs.
International Activities
We try to interchange cultures and ideas with various overseas organizations, provide translation and interpretation services according to international and domestic needs and carry out a protocol of official events in which foreigners participate.
Education
We offer a basic course of Buddhism in English and Korean to anyone who has an interest in studying Buddhism in English and we provide a training course to IDI trainees.
Propagation for kids and adolescents
We hold the ‘Jakata Storytelling contest’ every January and the ‘English Buddhist Ceremony’ on the first Sunday of every month in Tonghaesa in Yeongdeungpo-gu.
We also support the ‘English Buddhist Summer Camp’ and ‘International Patrol Jamboree’ so that youth groups have opportunities to learn the Buddha’s teachings, wisdom and compassion.
Multicultural Community
We are established based on the Buddha’s compassion and philosophy of harmony and aim to support immigrants who left their homeland and work hard for their dreams and hopes in a foreign country.
Templestay
We work together with the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, including 25 temples which operate Templestay programs for foreigners, and support them with interpretations and translations.
Lotus Lantern Festival
We are in charge of arranging and gathering audiences for the Lotus Lantern Parade and Lotus Lantern Making Event for foreigners.
The department arranges the activities of global supporters for various events of the Lotus Lantern Festival held on both Jongno Street and Ujeonggukno Street on both Saturday and Sunday one week before Buddha’s birthday which falls on April 8th. on the lunar calendar.
IDIA Choir
We convey the Buddha’s teachings through choral performances for various Buddhist ceremonies of the IDIA, such as IDIA’s Dharma meetings. We sing Buddhist songs at temples and foreign temples in Korea. The IDIA Choir also performed for overseas foreign and Korean temples.
What is an International Dharma Instructor?
An International Dharma Instructor refers to a person who has been appointed during the selection process conducted by the Bureau of Missionary Activities for the purpose of foreign propagation during Korean and overseas missions.
Goal
Based on Korean Buddhist tradition, the IDIA’s aim is to propagate Buddhist teachings to foreigners and to organizations composed mainly of foreigners in Korea or abroad. IDIA also aims to contribute to the internationalization of Korean Buddhism and to promote mutual cooperation among members of Korean Buddhist communities.
