Won Buddhism

The name Won Buddhism (Won-Bul-Kyo in Korean) is a compound of words for truth, enlightenment, and teaching. Won means circle and symbolizes the ultimate truth. Bul means enlightenment, and Kyo means teaching the truth. Therefore, Won Buddhism is the path that leads us to become enlightened to the truth.

Won Buddhism originated in Korea in 1916 when its founder, Master Sotaesan (Park, Joongbin 1891–1943), experienced a great enlightenment. He envisioned a practice for all people that emphasized equality between clergy and laity, between women and men, and among all economic classes and races.

Won Buddhism aims to revitalize and modernize Buddhism, to bring ancient Buddhist truth to contemporary society, and to use Buddhist teachings and meditation practice for practical and useful purposes.

“As material civilization develops, cultivate spiritual civilization accordingly.”

— Sotaesan (1891–1943)

What is Won (Il Won Sang)?

Il Won (One Circle) is the Dharmakaya Buddha, the origin of all things in the universe, the truth that all buddhas and sages enlightened to, and the original nature of all sentient beings. Won literally means circle and symbolizes the ultimate reality.

Il Won Sang (○) is the circular symbol of the Dharmakaya Buddha and the Buddha Nature of all beings. In Won Buddhism, the image of the human Buddha is replaced by Il Won Sang (○) which represents the perfect nature of the Buddha’s heart and mind that is not different from our original nature.

“God is a circle whose center is everywhere, whose circumference is nowhere.”

— St. Augustine

With the teaching of the explicit acceptance of other religions, Won Buddhism leads the movement for inter-religious cooperation based on the Ethics of Triple Identity: all religions and spirituality are based on a Common Source, all human beings and all forms of life are interdependent as a One Earth Family, and all enterprises have the spirit of serving the public good.