Exploring Seoul’s Buddhist Offerings
By Kim Young-jin
Contributing Writer
The Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn once wrote, ``We have more possibilities in each moment than we realize.''
For English speakers seeking to unlock the potential of the present moment through Buddhism, Seoul offers a richer variety of possibilities than one might think. Whether you're an experienced practitioner looking for community or your New Year's resolution involves creating more space for contemplation in 2010, the city may have just what you're looking for. Here are three resources to get you started.
Hwagye-sa International Zen Center, located at the foot of Mt. Samgak in northern Seoul and accessible from Suyu Station, offers a meditation session and English-language dharma talk on Sundays from 1 p.m. The weekly gathering begins with 30-minute periods of sitting meditation interspersed with walking meditation and short breaks. First-time participants can receive instruction at 12:30 p.m.
The Dharma talks begin at 3 p.m. and may be attended independently of the meditation, though the center encourages participants to gain insight through both.
The talks ― typically led by Ven. Po Hwa Sunim, head monk of the center ― are centered on traditional Korean Zen and its use of ``hwadu,'' or ultimate questions posed to participants to help them realize the true nature of all beings. Visitors to the program ― who are mixed in their levels of familiarity with the subject matter ― may come bearing their own questions about Zen and life, as the talks are Q&A based.
Po Hwa Sunim has practiced Zen for over 35 years and is a disciple of the 78th Patriarchal Zen Master Myo Vong. He spent 15 years teaching and studying in the United States, where he founded the World Zen Fellowship, a network of centers whose branches include ones in New York and Washington, D.C.
For more information about Hwagyesa International Zen Center, visit www.seoulzen.org or call (02) 900-4326.
Ahnkook Zen Center, located 10 minutes by foot from Anguk Station in central Seoul, offers an English-language class on Zen every Saturday from 2:30 p.m-5 p.m.
The class recently concluded its fall semester under the instruction of Lou Morrison, during which it studied a text from the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).
Morrison will resume teaching on the first Saturday of March; meanwhile, the class will continue through the winter facilitated by Song Soo-kyong, the coordinator of the center's English-language activities.
The class, which is characterized by lively discussions and an intimate atmosphere, begins each session with a 30-minute period of meditation.
A discussion follows, during which engaging topics regarding Zen and Buddhism such as the difference between compassion and love will be discussed.
This winter, participants will read passages from the book ``What the Buddha Taught'' by Walpola Rahula, a Sri Lankan Buddhist and intellectual. The reading and class materials are aimed at sparking questions and sharing among class members.
For more information about Ahnkook Zen Center, visit www.ahnkookzen.org or call (02) 744-0772.
For those interested in reading up on the teachings of the Buddha, there's the Buddhist English Library of Seoul (BELS).
Also located near Anguk Station, BELS is a cozy space that houses a collection of some 1,600 books on Buddhism. Visitors are encouraged to take a break from their busy schedules, sip a cup of tea and peruse the shelves, which also include journals and other publications in English and other languages. Books and other materials can be borrowed for two-week stretches for a small fee.
In addition, BELS holds Dharma talks in English every Saturday from 2 p.m-4 p.m., led by Ven. Chung-go, an ordained monk originally from Canada. The talks touch on such themes as mindfulness, meditation, harmonizing our relationships and controlling our emotions.
According to its Web site, BELS was established to create a ``center to further the proliferation of Buddhism not only throughout Korea, but also throughout the world.'' Among its functions, it trains lay monks and nuns to become teachers of Buddhism; conducts research, development and translation efforts; and raises funds to finance the activities of monastic individuals.
It also strives to be a space where English-speaking people interested in Buddhism can meet and network with each other.
The library is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.bels.kr.