A "Shelter" for Dharma Awakening in Korea
Ven. Song Hue
Shelter, Seoul, South Korea
Shelter, Seoul, South Korea
Rapid socio-economic growth of South Korea has brought an unwelcome side effect that threatens to undermine its own cultural heritage as well as moral standards.
Worse yet, fierce - if not fanatical Christian evangelical onslaughts - have jeopardized the history and value systems of Korea, whose culture and way of life have harmoniously interlaced with Buddhism since its introduction in the year of 372 AD.
Under the seizure of bellicose evangelism, Buddhism in Korea has been painted as a misguided, superstitious cult, while Buddhists are openly abused as 'demons worshippers'. In some cases, physical and criminal assault were reported, such as temple-burning, insults openly hurled at Buddha images or statutes etc.
To compound this problem, dogmatic local Buddhists and the hypocrisy that prevails among the religious leaders, is not helping much to stem the losing tide of Buddhist adherents. By turning the other cheek on prevailing social problems, the behavior of such Buddhist leaders is farcical at best, resulting in the eventually decrease of Buddhists today, which is just about 50% of the country's total population.
However, pointing to ruthless evangelical challenges as a reason for the decline of Buddhism is one thing. More importantly, all those concerned with Korean Buddhism should first reflect with candid conscience and humility, upon their passive attitudes and easy-going negligence in their failure to propagate the Dharma effectively.
Playing a personal role to stem the tide of a fast receding Buddhist populace and moral decay in general, Ven. Song Hue founded "Shelter", a non-conventional Buddhist movement that aims to "Spread Dharma through Youth, by the Youth".
Based in Seoul, South Korea, Shelter's main object is to make full use of the entertainment circle - both at home and abroad - to bring the Buddha Dharma closer to Korean youths. It puts this into practice by sponsoring different kinds of get-together such as hip-hop concert, B-Boy performance, rock band performance, charity song contest and the like.
Shelter aims to produce and distribute study kits in the form of comics, cartoons, animations, DVDs etc. These media based products are targeted at younger Koreans, pre-teens inclusive. The study kits will carry simple Buddhist teachings and parables. The materials will be produced in a manner which children and their parents can enjoy reading or watching together, while making it easier for them to get familiarize with the Dharma.
These study kits will be also distributed among the military and police forces, especially for most Korean males in their early 20's participating in the 2-years compulsory national service program. Such materials will give these men a lot of support and courage, and may even help them to endure their hardship in service. Followed up programs will be initiated for these men so that upon their discharge from national service, they will be motivated to continue working on the path of Dharma and to be involved in charitable campaigns.
Unlike traditional Buddhist temples, Shelter aims to use the English Language as a medium to deliver basic Buddhist teachings. This approach differentiates it from other temples, which have been teaching the Dharma using Sutras written in old Chinese letters. This orthodox and traditional method is recognized as a factor which have dispelled the young and old alike from learning Buddhism. Given the current popularity of English, this approach appeals very much with the local populace, a strategy which have been applied effectively by the evangelists to spread Christianity.
Shelter also offers services for local college students and expatriates from European countries, Australia, USA etc., and conducts study groups using selected Buddhist Sutras. It will soon offer online Buddhist courses such as those supplied by Ashoka eDharma University.
For foreigners who wish to meditate or experience Buddhist rites and formalities, Shelter arranges separate temple-stay programs as well.
Ven. Song Hue is now planning to renovate Shelter into one-stop center for needy teens, and will include programs such as judo, computer lessons, practical studies and meditation. These activities will be assisted by local and foreign volunteers.
The center is currently being supported by funds raised among Ven. Song Hue's lay friends and followers.
Worse yet, fierce - if not fanatical Christian evangelical onslaughts - have jeopardized the history and value systems of Korea, whose culture and way of life have harmoniously interlaced with Buddhism since its introduction in the year of 372 AD.
Under the seizure of bellicose evangelism, Buddhism in Korea has been painted as a misguided, superstitious cult, while Buddhists are openly abused as 'demons worshippers'. In some cases, physical and criminal assault were reported, such as temple-burning, insults openly hurled at Buddha images or statutes etc.
To compound this problem, dogmatic local Buddhists and the hypocrisy that prevails among the religious leaders, is not helping much to stem the losing tide of Buddhist adherents. By turning the other cheek on prevailing social problems, the behavior of such Buddhist leaders is farcical at best, resulting in the eventually decrease of Buddhists today, which is just about 50% of the country's total population.
However, pointing to ruthless evangelical challenges as a reason for the decline of Buddhism is one thing. More importantly, all those concerned with Korean Buddhism should first reflect with candid conscience and humility, upon their passive attitudes and easy-going negligence in their failure to propagate the Dharma effectively.
Playing a personal role to stem the tide of a fast receding Buddhist populace and moral decay in general, Ven. Song Hue founded "Shelter", a non-conventional Buddhist movement that aims to "Spread Dharma through Youth, by the Youth".
Based in Seoul, South Korea, Shelter's main object is to make full use of the entertainment circle - both at home and abroad - to bring the Buddha Dharma closer to Korean youths. It puts this into practice by sponsoring different kinds of get-together such as hip-hop concert, B-Boy performance, rock band performance, charity song contest and the like.
Shelter aims to produce and distribute study kits in the form of comics, cartoons, animations, DVDs etc. These media based products are targeted at younger Koreans, pre-teens inclusive. The study kits will carry simple Buddhist teachings and parables. The materials will be produced in a manner which children and their parents can enjoy reading or watching together, while making it easier for them to get familiarize with the Dharma.
These study kits will be also distributed among the military and police forces, especially for most Korean males in their early 20's participating in the 2-years compulsory national service program. Such materials will give these men a lot of support and courage, and may even help them to endure their hardship in service. Followed up programs will be initiated for these men so that upon their discharge from national service, they will be motivated to continue working on the path of Dharma and to be involved in charitable campaigns.
Unlike traditional Buddhist temples, Shelter aims to use the English Language as a medium to deliver basic Buddhist teachings. This approach differentiates it from other temples, which have been teaching the Dharma using Sutras written in old Chinese letters. This orthodox and traditional method is recognized as a factor which have dispelled the young and old alike from learning Buddhism. Given the current popularity of English, this approach appeals very much with the local populace, a strategy which have been applied effectively by the evangelists to spread Christianity.
Shelter also offers services for local college students and expatriates from European countries, Australia, USA etc., and conducts study groups using selected Buddhist Sutras. It will soon offer online Buddhist courses such as those supplied by Ashoka eDharma University.
For foreigners who wish to meditate or experience Buddhist rites and formalities, Shelter arranges separate temple-stay programs as well.
Ven. Song Hue is now planning to renovate Shelter into one-stop center for needy teens, and will include programs such as judo, computer lessons, practical studies and meditation. These activities will be assisted by local and foreign volunteers.
The center is currently being supported by funds raised among Ven. Song Hue's lay friends and followers.
posted by Wonji Dharma at
October 20, 2010
5 Comments:
The trajectory of Korean Buddhism in Korea seems to be on a to-be-expected course given the apparent reticence for monastics to interact with lay Buddhists. What Sunim is doing with the kids in Korea is great - but you know what - Christians have been doing that kind of thing for ages- getting down in the dirt with the people. The fact that Sunim's actions stand out at all seem to me to point to the deficit in engagement between monastics and householders..
Given that this is the situation in Korea, can it be any wonder that Korean temples in the US (the ones I've seen anyway) have such a narrow charism?
Yes, of course you are correct in this assessment. I would say that Dr. Jongmae Park has made some significant inroads with the Taego Order in Korea and is building a bridge for Monastics, Lay Practitioners and the West. Dr. Park has been a Chogye Monk since 1971 and several years ago move to the Taego Order.
This has been a difficult road not just for Korean Buddhism, but I think for all Buddhist Practices in the West.
Thanks again for your insight and sharing.
Fascinating. I indeed find Buddhism linked with all sorts of superstition and magic all over Asia. In that sense, Christianity limits their magic and can offer a different package.
Buddhism needs to reform itself.
Buddhism in Korea was dealt a severe blow by the Confucians, as well as current political policy. We shouldn't forget that Christians don't outnumber Buddhists in Korea (unless you read Christian sources), and that both groups are each outnumbered by the Korean non-religious. But unlike the largely white American Korean Buddhist temples, Korean temples -do- do more outreach and interact with people.
In Korea, there are Buddhist universities, the Hanmaum centers, there are Buddhist choirs, and there are the bosalnims. There is also a national Buddhist broadcasting network that plays popular music as well as chanting and dharma talks. Sunims do work and act in society in wider roles than you typically see in the US. Won Hyo "got in the dirt" with people and worked to popularize Buddhism. Here, (in my experience) monks are often extremely introverted white men and women who are smart and kind but often have limited social skills. Add to that the self-reliant, instead of community building ethic common to zennists here, then it shouldn't be surprising that outreach is not the zen forte. How many American monks would be really gracious accepting offerings from laypeople? I think this would make many of them supremely uncomfortable. Maybe we have more to learn from our Korean brethren.
Where are the Buddhist youth groups, retreats or camping trips, that Christians are so good at? Temples could adopt a road or neighborhood and help people sweep up. What about making sure the dharma gets passed on to the next generation by this kind of more fun outreach?
I would like to point out an essential difference between Korean Buddhism in the US and Korean Buddhism in Korea: we in the US do not primarily rely upon monastics to do the practice on our behalf. In the Kwan Um School of Zen (the form with which I am most familiar), laypeople are the primary daily practitioners. Sunims exist here, of course, and they are accorded great respect, but laymen and -women are the primary factors in our Zen Centers. My impression of Buddhist practice in Korea (and indeed most of Asia) is one of a passive laity that relies upon monastics to practice for us.
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