81st Monthly Dharma Talk

Invitation to the

81st MONTHLY DHARMA TALK

Date & Time: Saturday, 20 May 2017, 15:00-17:00

Venue: Buddhist English Library of Seoul (directions below)

Dharma Teacher: Chong An Sunim 청안 스님

(Won Kwang Sa Temple, Hungary) (헝가리 원광사 주지스님)

Topic: “Our Mind and our World”

Language: English

The International Dharma Instructors’ Association (IDIA) is a non-profit organization under the support and supervision of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (대한불교조계종). Our mission is to help people find inner peace and true happiness by sharing Buddha’s teachings. MONTHLY DHARMA TALKS are given by eminent Seon (Zen) masters and venerable Buddhist monks or nuns.

Anyone interested in Buddhism is welcome to join!

Directions
Located between Exit ⑤ and Exit ⑥ of Anguk Station (Seoul Metro Line No. 3): Go out of Exit ⑥ and walk in the reverse direction. It is the four-story building next to the SK Bldg. Address: 3F, 52, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 52, 3층 Tel: 02) 722-0204

Abstract:

We are living in an ever widening world, where nearly all information we desire reach us but there is less and less that we seem to be able to do about it. We know more than before and we can do far less to bring about any meaningful change to live and die in a better world. Our tradition teaches us that mind creates this world, also our observation can confirm that this world can deeply condition our mind. How do we perceive this process? How do we attain it? How can we use it to experience our true nature, which brings us to correctly recognizing the truth of our world—and hopefully our correct direction and function therein.

Biography:

Chong An Sunim started Zen practice in 1990. He became a monk in 1994, and spent the next six years training under Zen Master Seung Sahn at the Seoul International Zen Center, Hwa Gye Sa, Korea. He was authorized to teach in August, 1999, by his teacher, the late Zen Master Seung Sahn.

Since 2000, his teaching activity has extended to Asia, United States and Europe. He initiated the search for land in 2003 to construct a traditional Korean temple in the Pilis Mountains, near the capital  of Hungary, Budapest.  As part  of the

monastic and lay tradition of Korean Buddhism, it is intended as a practicing place and residence for all people who want to do extensive training as well as short term retreats.

The temple site was found in 2004 September, and the first piece of land was purchased in 2005 February. The construction of the main temple building was started in 2006 ceremonially, and a year later physically. After overcoming several obstacles, the building was finished in early 2010. Both the initiating and the opening ceremony for the first Zen Hall were performed by the Sudoksa Bangjang Seol Jong Kunsunim, also attended by the Hyangcheonsa Juji Boep Jong Sunim and the Hwagyesa Juji Soo Am Sunim as well as lay practitioners.

In 2012, the situation has become ripe for Won Kwang Sa Temple to enter the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. This organizational unity helps ensure a lasting spiritual bridge between Korea and the West, so that the teaching of the Buddhas and Patriarchs would reach more people and offer a way to liberate all beings from suffering.

In spring, 2014, the Sudoksa Bangjang Seol Jong Sunim visited Won Kwang Sa for the third time, giving teaching as well as performing the initiating ceremony for the Great Buddha Hall. Chong An Sunim continues to serve as founder and abbot of Won Kwang Sa and immerses himself in practicing and teaching Zen.

Publications:

There has been three books published from Chong An Sunim’s live Dharma talks: “The Flowers and the Bee’ (2007) and ‘Mind Mirror’ (2009) with Gimm Young Publisher, the third one entitled ‘How may I help you?’ by Dasan Publishers (2011).

He has given several series of broadcast Dharma Talks since 2006, aired and streamed by the Buddhist Television Network of Korea. A crew of BTN visited Hungary several times and made a well-received documentary on the beginnings of the Won Kwang Sa project called “Flowers on Virgin Soil”.

Download: Invitation (PDF)

Video:

Photos: