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Won Buddhism is considered a reformed Buddhism in that it embraces the original Buddha¡¯s teachings and makes it relevant and suitable to contemporary society. It revitalizes and modernizes Buddhism, so that an ever increasing number of people can use Buddha¡¯s teaching for practical and useful purposes.
The name Won Buddhism (Won-bul-kyo in Korean) is a compound word meaning the universal truth, enlightenment, and teaching. Won means unitary circle, which symbolizes the ultimate truth; Bul means enlighten to the Truth; and Kyo means to teach the Truth. Therefore Won Buddhism is a religion that teaches the ultimate Truth so that people can awaken to this Truth and carry it out in their daily life.
As the Won implies, we embrace and accept those of other faiths and have made a lot of effort in inter-religious dialogue to create the UR (United Religion) to build peace on earth.
The term Buddha means
enlightenment or mind. |
A guest asked to Master, Chongsan(second Head Dharma Master), ¡°Since your religious order is named Won-Buddhism (Wonbulgyo, êÝÖÎç), I would like to know the meaning of Won?¡±
Master Chongsan said, ¡°The metaphysical reality of Won is the realm which cannot be described in words or forms, however, the physical aspects of Won are expressed in all beings of the universe. Thus, Won is the origin of all dharmas and the reality of all existences. Therefore, all the religious teachings, though they are expressed in various ways, are nothing but the truth of Won and there is no other Dharma.¡±
The guest asked, ¡°If Won has such a great and perfect meaning, wouldn¡¯t it be better to call your order ¡®The Way of Won¡¯(Wondo, êÔ³) or ¡®The Religion of Won¡¯(Wonkyo, êÎç) for the purpose of including all religious teachings in it? Although Buddhism is an old and great religion, the world still suspects that it has only a partial truth. Why don¡¯t you think this matter over?¡±
Master Chongsan said, ¡°The term Buddha means enlightenment or mind. The truth of Won may be so perfect as to include all Dharmas; however, it will be just an empty principle if there is no mind which is enlightenment to it. Thus, the two terms, Won-Bul(êÝÖ), are inseparably related to each other, referring to an identical truth. The fundamental doctrine of the Buddha¡¯s teaching was not originally partial; however, because of the different systems of propagation it has been misunderstood as partial. Hence, a renovation of the propagation system will clearly reveal the true face of the Buddha dharma in the world.
(The Dharma Words of Master Chongsan, chapter 4. verse 1) 
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