History
In the 21st century, people sought a religion that would carry a higher affection of self-cultivation and wisdom for the new era. Since the establishment of Buddhism by Bhagavat in the 6th century B.C, Buddhism has always stood strong as the most beloved religion of the East. In the last 2,500 years, our mundane world had received heavy and serious defilements that are deeply engaged within people’s daily lives, and still many of them are eager to find the best solution to liberate them from this endless suffering. The Western religions had long years of power that lead to the most respectable teachings of its civilizations. However, Buddhism touched down in the Western spectrum in the late 18th century, especially in the European countries. Although Buddhism came into the West, this non-dogmatical religion found hardship that spread in the Western world, namely hardships dealing with westerners who were profoundly educated (or fixed in cultural behaviors) through other religions. Since the 20th century, Buddhism has slowly begun to affect the Western religious spectrum, so much so that many people became Buddhists or carried a dual faith along with their traditional beliefs.
Buddhism is a people’s religion that teaches self-awakening rather than following the salvation of supreme beings. Buddha asserted that every sentient being has a strong sense of self-salvation as well as the ability to liberate itself from its suffering. Buddhism teaches that every human being carries a special character called “life of sacred value,” which means that no one can disturb his or her own human value. Humanism is the main core of its teachings, and Buddhists do not believe in any supreme beings that are above or beneath the people’s world. Traditionally, a Buddhist is never involved in any kind of religious conflict involving the cost of other people’s lives and hardly talks about the opinions of other religions. Buddhism teaches utmost humbleness and compassion to care for suffering people and humanized recount for people’s comfort rather than using God’s retribution.
Modern society is a society of self-righteousness, and Buddhism will give you an answer for how people should control their self-centering behavior. Buddha’s unhindered account delivers a huge impact to the materialistic world: a virtuous implement of self-cultivation. All of humankind has an absolute equal value, and we must keep it that way, preserving our ethical community from the evil mindset and extreme behavior. Our Buddhist academic program is a part of human education that we must deliver. We provide the Buddha’s teachings in accordance with all that is written in the Tri-Pitaka, not according to personal opinion or magical (secret) words. Buddhism had been preserved in last 2,500 years, and we must continue this respectable tradition for the next 2,500 years. We will start with very basic concepts of Buddhism with various sutras, including the Theravada and Mahayana (some Vajrayana) texts. We will also provide a place for a retreat in order for the student to grasp a practical Buddhist temple’s life and practice intensive meditation to build calm and bright awareness. Our eLearning school will teach you the true factors of Buddhism, not idealistic or magical literature for self-benefit. We believe that the universe is like a single flower and that the ultimate goal of Buddhism is to create and maintain a beautiful planet without hatred and wars. The pure land dwells in an idealistic stage, but when you are awakened by Buddha-Dharma, then the pure land dwells within your mind. Master told us, “What mind is bothering you? Give it to me, and I will take care of it...If any one can deliver a suffering mind to me, then he or she will surely reach the stages of Bodhisattva!”
Ven. Dr. Jongmae Kenneth Park
Patriarch of Taego Order's America-Europe Parish,
Dean of Institute for Buddhist Studies U.S.A.