The Heart Of Practice NC

A Bodhisattva takes the Four Great Vows. Reverend Wongong So reflects on how, in moments of self-doubt and spiritual ennui, returning to our original vows can help us remember the ultimate reason for our practice: Liberating ALL sentient beings.

This is Part 1 of Reverend WonGong’s deep dive on Yin and Yang from August of 2017. Balancing Yin and Yang can be a vital step to improved functioning of body and mind. Learn what these terms actually mean, how they relate to karma and how balancing these dual principles can improve your physical health and general well-being.

Our dear temple friend, Kelly gives a talk on progressing on the spiritual path and how faster is not always better. Please enjoy her thoughtful sharing and please share any reflections in the comments!

Podcast Notes: https://www.wonbuddhismnc.org/donations

If you've ever wondered how to get started with Koan practice, this is the place to start. In Rev. WonGong & Rev. Song's talk on September 24, 2017, they discuss how Won Koans, or Hwadu, are intended to both reveal our True Nature and Illuminate Human affairs and Universal Principles. A koan can be a profound question or simply the question of why our washing machine keeps leaving stains on our cl...

Reverend Dr. Bokin Kim discusses her travels in India and reflects on the fact that the historical Buddha "was born on the road, lived on the road, and then died on the road." Demonstrating the ways in which Buddhism has continuously promoted equality, she teaches that the 4 Essentials are as integral to Won Buddhism as they are consistent with the Buddha's original teachings.

Rev. WonGong shares her personal healing journey with her mother, who brought many challenges to their family. This talk serves as a living testimony to uncovering “Grace from Harm”, especially with our relationship with parents.

We are grateful to Ven. JukSanim, the Head Dharma Teacher of Won Buddhism, USA. He visited us from Won Dharma Center, Upstate New York to share his blessings on our 20th Anniversary Celebration. 감사합니다 (Kam Sah Hahm Nee Dah)

According to the scriptures of Won Buddhism, our actions should be based on sound thought. What happens when habits form, and actions become automatic? Rebecca Kameny reflects on the importance of heedfulness in knowing when to form a habit and when to break it.

Pete and Julie Warshaw gave this wonderful talk about Questioning, one of the 8 Articles, in April of 2019. While Questioning is an essential practice to cultivate, we must remember to fit it in with Faith, Zeal, and Dedication. Pete and Julie challenge us to think about how our ego and preconceived notions may be wrapped up in our deep questions and doubts.

Our temple friend and member, Shauna Hay (Won SonHa), shares about how dedication and wisdom can help us master skills and learn things that we never imagined we could. Sometimes, the practice itself is our best teacher, even when the practice is standing on your head!

Depending upon our choices, technology can be a powerful gift...or, it can drag us into misery! Won Buddhism's founding motive speaks to this directly. In this insightful talk, Patty Daniel (Hwa Tawonim) highlights how our practice aids us to appreciate and control technology rather than having it smother our lives

What is the essence of the true nature of the universe? Although words and concepts cannot give us the full answer, they do give us glimpses of this fundamental Truth. In this insightful and informative dharma talk, Rev. WonGong beautifully guides us through the teachings and illustrations of true nature.

When it comes to meditation, have you ever wondered, "Am I doing this right?" Paige Doster-Grimes discusses the need for engaged calmness during meditation, emphasizing the importance of being alert and grounded in the present moment. Giving Master Sotesan's instructions for meditation, she tells us how to manage both drowsiness and/or a busy mind.

Receiving a Dharma Name is a great honor that represents an absolute commitment to the Won Buddhist path. Linda Cato received her name in 2025. This is her reflection on the journey that brought her there.

Dharma shines brightly from so many places – even pumpkin vines! In this delightful talk, Rev. WonGong shares insight into the way dedicated teachers help guide their students. Just as she carefully uncurls the tendrils of misdirected pumpkin vines, our teachers help us untwist our clenched tendrils, so we can grow in beneficial directions.

How special that we have the very first Won Mu (Lay Minister of Won Buddhism) in our temple community! Kathleen Herr is a dedicated and loving Won Mu. In this talk, she shares her heart-full words of wisdom on her practice journey.

Receiving a Dharma Name is a great honor that represents an absolute commitment to the Won Buddhist path. Jenn Robinson received her name in 2024. This is her reflection on the journey that brought her there.

Receiving a Dharma Name is a great honor that represents an absolute commitment to the Won Buddhist path. Christine Donovan Ball received her name in 2024. This is her reflection on the journey that brought her there.

Discussing the spiritual journey that led her to become a Dharma Name Recipient, Irene Sadler uses the metaphor of the Mugunghwa, or Rose of Sharon, to highlight the importance of proper nourishment and support on the spiritual path.

Spiritual teachers do not always conform to the expectations of their students. However, even when rough and unpolished, they have a kind of radar that looks much further than the student can see. In this heartwarming dharma talk, Reverend Shaun explores the teacher-student relationship within Won Buddhism.

After the recent floods in North Carolina and elsewhere, Reverend WonGong reflects on the power and possibility of water. The symbolism of water holds an essential place in Asian culture, and Taoism in particular. Watch now to see how water can serve as a guide and example as we flow down the path of spiritual practice.

Educating others' children is one of the four essentials of Won Buddhism. Telling our Dharma Community about the All is Grace School in Zambia, which he helped found, and the All is Grace Community Partnership, John Miller discusses this surprisingly deep spiritual discipline.

Telling the story of her father's imprisonment in an Indian internment camp, Yeeva Cheng talks about the way anger can ripple outward (and downwards) from an experience of powerlessness or trauma. However, Yeeva argues, Anger can also be used to correct an injustice. How can we learn to transmute our anger into a force for justice and spiritual growth?

We are often told how to live well, but rarely told how to die well. But death, in Won-Buddhism, is simply the reflection of life, so dying well is fundamental to practicing well. In this talk Nik shares some experiences he has had with dying through taking care of his grandfather and how that relates to the Won-Buddhist scriptures.