WON+BUDDHISM+MS

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= __WON BUDDHISM/WONBULGYO/원불교 __ =

**__Basic Information__**

Won Buddhism (Wonbulgyo/원불교) is a Korean variation of Buddhism that consists of both Confucian and Buddhist beliefs. It was founded by Park Chung Bin, who also gained the title of “SoTaeSan” after his great enlightenment in 1924.

__**Meaning**__

Won Buddhism means Circular or Consummate Buddhism, as Won(원) means circle in the Hangul language.

Meaning of Wonbulgyo: **//“WON”//** - circle that symbolizes the ultimate truth. **//“BUL”//** - to enlighten the truth. **//“GYO”//** - to teach the truth.

__**Beliefs/Practices**__

There are four main principles and four sub principles in Won Buddhism.

The **four main principles** are :
 * Indebtedness to Heaven and Earth, in which we harbor no thought after rendering beneficence
 * Indebtedness to Parents and protection of the helpless
 * Indebtedness to Fellow Beings, benefiting oneself by benefiting others
 * Indebtedness to Laws, doing justice and forsaking injustice

The **four sub principles** are :
 * The Principle of Developing Self-Power
 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Principle of the Wise One First
 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Principle of Educating Others' Children
 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Principle of Venerating the Public Spirited

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Threefold study: <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">cultivating the spirit, developing wisdom, self awareness, and applying virtue to one’s life allows one to reach nirvana.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">Won Buddhism takes a faith-based religion and mixes it with the philosophy of a scholar to achieve something that is both logical and yet requires faith. We can see that the principles of education and wise one first as well as indebtedness to parents are influences from Confucianism which also promotes these ideas as part of its philosophy.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">__**Founder**__ <span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">Park Chungbin achieved nirvana at the age of 53 after spending twenty years performing meditation and searching for the ultimate truth. Due to the geographical location of Korea, influences from Chinese Zen Buddhism and Confucianism helped form this unique mixture of culture, religion, and logic.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">__**Temples/Architecture**__ <span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">Won Buddhism’s architecture is much more simple than other types of ornate Buddhism because of its emphasis that Buddha can be found in all things, such as rocks, trees, and other animals in nature. Because of this, their temples are very simple and have few rituals that are repeated. This reflects the influence of Zen Buddhism in Won Buddhism. Similarly, architecture and temple design is less ornate. Won Buddhists meditate and pray in front of a white wall with a black circle, which represents the ultimate truth.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__**Won Buddhism Today...**__

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">In modern day, Won Buddhism is practiced over 14 countries around the world. There are around 550 temples in Korea and over 50 temples overseas. Currently, the number of followers total up to an estimate of 1,400,000.

<span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px;">__**Sacred Texts**__


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">Wonbulgyo Kyojon (“Chongjon” The Principle Book of Won-Buddhism, “Taejongyong” The Discourse of the Great Master)


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">“Pobo” The Dharma Words of Master Chongsan


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">“ Wonbulgyo Chonso” Essential Buddhist Scripturs


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">“Yejeon” The Book of Rituals


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The History of Won-Buddhism (50 years)


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Constituion of Won-Buddhism


 * <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Hymns of Won-Buddhism

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">For additional information on Won Buddhism meditation and Won Buddhism in general, visit [|__http://wonbuddhism.info/me/me_2.html__] and [|__http://www.wonbuddhism.info__]

<span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__**Works Cited**__

<span style="font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__**Sources:**__

<span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">McEnroe, A.. "The Educational Theory of Confucius." //NewFoundations: Publishing and Consultancy//. N.p., 23 June 2001. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. <[|____http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Confucius.html____]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">"Won Buddhism." //Agnosticism / Atheism - Skepticism & Atheism for Atheists & Agnostics//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. <[|____http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/eastern/bldef_wonbuddhism.htm____]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">"Won Buddhism - New World Encyclopedia." //Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia//. N.p., 6 Nov. 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <[|____http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Won_Buddhism____]>. <span style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">unsan. "wonworld." //Won-buddhism : Buddhism, Meditation//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. <[|____http://www.wonbuddhism.info/info/page/1.html____]>.

<span style="font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 18px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__**Pictures:**__

http://www.buddhachannel.tv/portail/local/cache-vignettes/L459xH235/won-buddhism-logo2-c4bc7.gif http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Korea_unified_flag.png http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/6/7/1/600_1102129.jpeg http://www.wonbuddhism.info/info/images/2_01.gif http://cfs13.blog.daum.net/image/29/blog/2008/11/07/08/23/49137c7842c4b&filename=IMG_9507.JPG http://www.wonbuddhism.info/info/images/9_02.gif