IN NATURE, OUR TRUE NATURE

IN NATURE, OUR TRUE NATURE

What do you want in a silent meditation retreat? This retreat offers the opportunity to practice meditation in movement and at rest through sitting, standing, and lying down. The aim in meditation is to experience the truth, especially the truth of our own nature. While the retreat emphasizes meditation practice, it also incorporates movement, journaling, dharma study and reflection, as well as group and individual teaching about meditation practice. Because of Won Buddhism's belief in the interconnectedness of all things, we practice outside in the beautiful setting of Southern Dharma when weather permits.

Won Buddhism is a new form of Buddhism for the modern world. Originating in Korea in 1916, its founder Sot'aesan envisioned a practice for all people. He emphasized equality between priest and laity, men and women, all economic groups, and all races. He believed that great enlightenment is possible without removing oneself from worldliness, and that in fact living in the world and applying the practice and clarity of the dharma would facilitate awakening as well as transform the world into a paradise.

Rev. WonGong So was ordained as Kyomunim in 1994 after eight years of intensive training in Korea. She served in the Gang-Nam Temple (Seoul) and the Rockville Temple in Maryland. She is a pioneering Won Buddhist priest who started a Temple with Western practitioners in Chapel Hill, NC. She serves as Head Priest there, leads spiritual and cultural enrichment programs, and provides pastoral counseling. She leads meditation workshops/lectures at academic institutes and plans/conducts spiritual retreats and camps. She also has a Masters of Social Work and has worked as a therapist. Rev. WonGong has been active with interfaith groups, providing meditation workshops at World Scout Jamborees. She has been a leading Korean-to-English translator of dharma teachings.