Won-gag Temple of Korean Jogye Order Visited Dharma Lotus Hall during Their Taiwan Visit

On November 28^th, 2024, led by Abbot Ven. Won Gak of Won-gag Temple (원각사) of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, a delegation of 16 monastic members and devotees arrived at Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) World Center for Buddhist Education at 10:00 a.m. During their visit, which coincided with DDM Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service, they stopped by Dharma Lotus Hall and circumambulated the Lotus Bell. Accompanied by monastic members and volunteers of DDM Visitor Service Office, the delegation walked around in silence to experience the extraordinary atmosphere of the Dharma service and DDM's environment that inspires Chan joy. 

When the delegation visited Dharma Lotus Hall, Ven. Guo Lii (果理法師), the Managing Director of DDM branch monastery administration, was giving a Dharma talk on the scriptures as guidance on the essentials of practicing Buddhist teachings. The delegation admired how DDM monastic teachers took the opportunity of the Dharma service to highlight the importance of giving equal emphasis to both understanding and practice. The delegation then went to the Lotus Bell Tower to perform circumambulation and prostration, expressing that they were deeply impressed by this featured treasure of DDM. 

Ven. Won Gak indicated that, as monastics of Chan Buddhism, they have been especially moved and inspired by DDM founder Master Sheng Yen's perseverance and contribution to promoting Chinese Chan Buddhism. Every time he visits DDM World Center for Buddhist Education, he recalls the inspiring stories of how Master Sheng Yen dedicated and devoted himself to Buddhism. Therefore, whenever he visits Taiwan, he brings his Korean devotees to learn more about DDM.

Ven. Won Gak, who has been constantly exchanging ideas with the Buddhist communities in Taiwan since 1989, also explained to the devotees that Master Sheng Yen had shown a new path for Buddhism by making a profound contribution to the modernization of Buddhism. The accompanying monastic members and devotees also expressed their interest in visiting DDM again in the future.



Original Chinese text / Chang Yao-chung (張曜鐘)
Photos / Fan Lee (李東陽), Li Jia-Chun (李佳純)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL