Won Buddhism
| Won Buddhism | |
| Hangul | 원불교 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Wonbulgyo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Wǒnbulkyo |
Wŏn Buddhism (Korean: 원불교) is a modernized form of Buddhism that seeks to make enlightenment possible for everyone and applicable to regular life. The scriptures are simplified so that they are easy to understand and their applications to life are made clear. Practice is simplified so that anyone, regardless of their wealth, occupation, or other external living conditions, can still practice Buddhism. Practices that are considered outdated, confusing, or unnecessary are removed. Because of the major changes that Won Buddhists have made to their practice, Won Buddhism can be regarded either as a new religious movement or as a form of Buddhism.
According to Won Buddhist sources, Bak Jungbin (Hangul: , hanja: , 1891–1943) attained bodhi in 1916 and had a precognition of the world entering an era of advancing material civilization to which humans would be enslaved. The only way to save the world was by expanding spiritual power through faith in genuine religion and training in sound morality. With the dual aims of saving sentient beings and curing the world of moral ills, Sot'aesan began his religious mission. He founded a new religious order with Buddhist teachings as its central doctrine, establishing the Society of the Study of the Buddhadharma at Iksan, North Jeolla Province, in 1924. Pak edified his followers with newly drafted doctrine until his death in 1943. The central doctrine was published in the Bulgyo jeongjeon (The Correct Canon of Buddhism) in 1943.
In 1947, Song Gyu (Hangul: , 1900–1962), the second patriarch, renamed the order "Weon Buddhism" and published a new canon, Weonbulgyo gyojeon (The Scriptures of Won Buddhism), in 1962.
Won Buddhist doctrine is split into two gates by which enlightenment is attained. The first, the Gate of Faith, is made up of the Fourfold Grace and the Four Essentials, which together make up the necessary mindset of a practitioner. The second gate is the Gate of Practice, composed of the Threefold Study and the Eight Articles, which make up the necessary behaviors of a practitioner.
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