THE SACRED GROUNDS
WON BUDDHISM IN THE WORLD
YOUNGSAN SACRED GROUNDS
The place in which the Holy Sage and the Founding Master Sotaesan was born, has been named Youngsan, a sacred site for Won Buddhism. There, he also grew up, attained enlightenment after his ascetic search for the truth, and, finally, initiated the new religion of Won Buddhism under the motto: "With this Great Opening of matter, Let there be a Great Opening of spirit." Youngsan is Gilying-ri, Baeksu-eup, Youngkwang County.
The Founding Master was born on May 5, 1891 in the small village of Youngchon, From early in his childhood he had many questions in his mind about the universe, nature, birth, old age, sickness, and death. On April 28, 1916, at the age of 26, he attained enlightenment after 20 years in search of truth.
Following his great enlightenment in 1919(the 4th year from the conception of Won Buddhism), the Founding Master Sotaesan and his nine disciples moved to Byeonsan to outline the doctrine and system of the new religious order. Together they had already begun establishing the foundation of the new religion by starting a movement for a savings cooperative (to make the religion financially self-sustaining), the seemingly impossible task of building the embankment of Jeonggwan-pyeong, and praying to save all sentient beings, even at the cost of sacrificing their own lives; Dying Without Regret. It was all a movement towards the opening of a new religion.
In building the new religious order at sacred Youngsan, the early Won Buddhist order passed down as the founding spirit of Won Buddhism abolition of wastefulness, exclusion of superstition, elimination of illiteracy, prudence and saving, and selfless sacrifice.
The Founding Master Sotaesan was born, has been named Youngsan, a sacred site for Won Buddhism. Venerable Sotaesan, having for 28 years unfolded his compassionate intent for all sentient beings, entered Nirvana at the worldly age of 53 on June 1, 1943 after he transmitted the verse of Truth to his disciples: "Being changes into Non-being and Non-being in to Being, turning and turning again; but in the ultimate reality Being and Non-being are both void, but the void is complete and contains everything." His last name was Park, his first name Joongbin, and his dharma title was Sotaesan.
BYEONSAN SACRED GROUNDS
Byeonsan, the instituting place of Dharma, is part of the Bongnae cloister and is located in Mt Bongnae, in Buan County, Jeonbuk, Korea, where the Great Master crystallized his ideas for the system by which the new religious order would be opened and the fundamental doctrine of Won buddhism.
Sites here include Silsang temple, Seokdu hermitage (in which the Founding Master stayed with a few disciples and outlined the doctrine and system), Ssangsunbong peak (in which the prayer of the blood-seal was finally ended), Wolmyung hermitage, the site of Silsang temple, Naeso temple, the nine turns at Byeonsan, house of Lee Chunpung, Ha island, jul port, and Gom marshland (in which the remains of the Venerable Chŏngsan and his disciples are held).
The Founding Master encountered a great number of seeds that would play a role in the sprouting foundation of won Buddhism.
MANDUK MOUNTAIN SACRED GROUNDS
Manduk Mountain Sacred Grounds is located on the southern side of Mt. Manduk of Jungkil-ri, Sungsu-myun, Jinan, Jeonbuk, Korea and is where the first meditation retreat was held. In Won Buddhism year 9, this is the site in which the Founding Master and his disciples stayed for a month and held the first meditation retreat.
Anothe Manduk Mountain sacred grounds is the sith at which the third Head Dharma Master, Venerable Daesan, grew up. It is the place of growth that the three sages of Won Buddhism, the founding Master, the second Head Dharma Master Chŏngsan, and the third Dharma master Daesan, encountered first.
Now, the sacred grounds houses Manduk Mountain training center and Manduksan Farm, incorporation of Green Life.
IKSAN SACRED GROUNDS
It is here, on the Iksan Sacred Grounds of Won Buddhism, where Sotaesan, the Founding Master of Won Buddhism(1891~1943) established the Research Institute of the Buddhadharma, in 1924. The Founding Master resided and directed the Order’s expansion from these grounds, until he entered nirvana. It is here where he proclaimed the new name of the Order, "Won Buddhism," and where the Founding Master’s remains are enshrined.
For the Won Buddhist congregation, this sacred ground has deep meaning. It is the place where the Order first took shape and unfolded. For the Korean nation, it is treasured for its religious and regional history, where one can see the developmental stages of a newly formed religious organization in modern times.
Major cultural assets on the site include eight buildings: Bonwon-sil; Old Public Hall (Gonghoe-dang); Former Office of the Founding Master(Jongbeop-sil); Great Enlightenment Hall(Daegak-jeon); Geumgang-won; Jeongsin-won; Former Administration(Gujeong-won); and Cheongha-won; and four stone structures: the Stupa and the Monument of the Founding Master Sotaesan, Venerable Chŏngsan, and Venerable Daesan.
SEONGJU SACRED GROUNDS
Seongju is where the second Head Dharma Master, Venerable Chŏngsan(who succeeded the Founding Master’s Dharma), was born, grew up, and sought after the truth. It is located in Chojeon-myun, Seongju-gun, Kyeongbuk, Korea.
It is the birthplace of Venerable Chŏngsan. Also, one can find Baksil, the site of enduring hardships searching for the truth. The monument of the Ethics of Triple Identity is at the birthplace, as well as the monument of Sosung, the site of searching for the truth in the place of growing, the site of searching for the truth in the place of growing and searching for the truth.
Won Buddhism offers those whocome on pilgrimage here rooms of prayer, dharma hall, and convenient facilities in order to help them to make a meaningful pilgrimage here.
- KOREAN VERSION -