More Latinos Choose a Less Travelled Road to Spirituality

An article featuring Taego-jong Overseas Parish's own Mooh-Sang Sunim (So Shim Sa, NJ)

Ruben Lambert was educated in Catholic schools and grew up as a faithful Roman Catholic. As he grew older, the first generation Cuban-American decided to adopt a religion more rooted in meditation and enlightenment.

Now he follows the practices of Zen Buddhism and has assumed the name Venerable Mooh-Sang Sunim.

Like Lambert, many Latinos are shedding their traditional spiritual beliefs for non-traditional, non-Christian religions. Whether it involves praying five times a day or forsaking a suit and tie for long robes, these people are firm believers in the doctrines of their chosen convictions....

At first, it was like anything new and my family was reluctant to except it. The idea of a Buddhist monk is not an idea my parents expected me to become. So, taking those factors to account, there was a natural resistance.

Read the full article from FOX News Latino

Congratulations Bup Mee Sunim!

Photo Taken At Bup Ryun-sa in Seoul.

Bup Mee Sunim (Kevin Hickey) from Muddy Water Zen in Royal Oak, Michigan recently returned from South Korea where he completed 3 weeks of monastic training as a junior monk apprentice at Seonam-sa under the Taego Order. He was ordained at Seonam-sa on Wednesday October 19, 2011 and was also voted by his peers and instructors and awarded the President's Award for most committed and diligent hard-working student. He will be inducted formally next week at Muddy Water Zen and taken on as staff clergy under his teacher Hae Doh Sunim.

Congratulations Bup Mee Sunim!

Yongsanjae in Hollywood

From Ven. Bishop Dr. Jongmae's email,

Dear Taego sangha and IBS students
World UNESCO heritage "Yongsanjae" ritual took place at Ford Theater in Hollywood, yesterday.
President of Taego order (Most Venerable In-Gong) and 17 other Taego monks performed very beautifully
and about 800 audiences gathered at wonderful Ford Theater. Ritual manifests the utmost pleasure of Buddha-Dharm and faithful cultivation yet the rite that shows ancient musics and dancing...
Especially, Venerable Koo-Hae (Korea's national living treasure 50) and Dr. Ae-Jo-Lee (Korea's national living treasure 27) were drew out the most attention from audiences because their supreme performance.
Congratulations! and deeply appreciated to President of Taego order and 17 others supreme performers!
Enjoy the photos took by one of fellow Taego sangha.

Welcome and Congratulations Rev. Daebi!

Dulcinea Circelli finally become a Dharma instructor under the Korean Buddhist Taego order. H.Q of Taego order bestows her certificate and ID card and Reverend Hae Joong Maxwell and I gave her Dharma instructor robe and kasa (as a gift). Therefore, overseas parish pleased to announce that Reverend Daebi Circelli is now, a new sangha member of Korean Buddhist Taego order and yet a Dharma teacher at Bo Kwang Buddhist temple Anaheim, CA. Congratulations!

MWZ in Modern Buddhism!

Scan of the story on Muddy Water Zen and the Overseas Taego Parish in the May Edition of Modern Buddhism

Modern Buddhism Scan

Buddha’s Birthday: Streetfair in Seoul

Post by Chong Go Sunim for Wake Up and Laugh!

The Buddha’s Birthday is almost upon us, (tomorrow in fact) which means that yesterday was the street fair in front of Jogye Temple in Seoul. For an entire block, the road was filled with activities and booths set up by Buddhist organizations and NGO’s from around the world. I can’t imagine any other place in the world where one could see so many different types of Buddhism and Buddhist organizations. In fact, I have too many photos, and not enough time, so I’ll have to divide this post into two parts. (You can see larger images of most photos by clicking on the image.)

See all the photos here.

Interview: Seon Buddhism seeks spiritual guidance

Religion has improved the quality of spiritual life of human beings and influenced societal development for a long time through various moral roles in the public sphere by giving ethical inspiration to civil society activity and political discussion.

Zen-Master Subul, head of the Anguk Zen Center, stresses the very essence of Buddhism, particularly Seon (Zen) Buddhism — the spiritual guidance — to show people the right direction with a balance between materialistic and spiritual civilizations.

To commemorate Buddha’s Birthday which falls today, Master Subul, who puts the Buddha’s teachings into practice, talked about his vision on Seon Buddhism through “ganhwaseon” in an interview with The Korea Times. Ganhwaseon is a traditional way of Seon meditation in which the main practice is to investigate “hwadu” in order to attain enlightenment toward True Nature.

Read the interview from Korea Times.