Rapid socio-economic growth of South Korea has brought an unwelcome side effect that threatens to undermine its own cultural heritage as well as moral standards.
Worse yet, fierce - if not fanatical Christian evangelical onslaughts - have jeopardized the history and value systems of Korea, whose culture and way of life have harmoniously interlaced with Buddhism since its introduction in the year of 372 AD.
Under the seizure of bellicose evangelism, Buddhism in Korea has been painted as a misguided, superstitious cult, while Buddhists are openly abused as 'demons worshippers'. In some cases, physical and criminal assault were reported, such as temple-burning, insults openly hurled at Buddha images or statutes etc.
To compound this problem, dogmatic local Buddhists and the hypocrisy that prevails among the religious leaders, is not helping much to stem the losing tide of Buddhist adherents. By turning the other cheek on prevailing social problems, the behavior of such Buddhist leaders is farcical at best, resulting in the eventually decrease of Buddhists today, which is just about 50% of the country's total population.
However, pointing to ruthless evangelical challenges as a reason for the decline of Buddhism is one thing. More importantly, all those concerned with Korean Buddhism should first reflect with candid conscience and humility, upon their passive attitudes and easy-going negligence in their failure to propagate the Dharma effectively.
Playing a personal role to stem the tide of a fast receding Buddhist populace and moral decay in general, Ven. Song Hue founded "Shelter", a non-conventional Buddhist movement that aims to "Spread Dharma through Youth, by the Youth".
Based in Seoul, South Korea, Shelter's main object is to make full use of the entertainment circle - both at home and abroad - to bring the Buddha Dharma closer to Korean youths. It puts this into practice by sponsoring different kinds of get-together such as hip-hop concert, B-Boy performance, rock band performance, charity song contest and the like.
Shelter aims to produce and distribute study kits in the form of comics, cartoons, animations, DVDs etc. These media based products are targeted at younger Koreans, pre-teens inclusive. The study kits will carry simple Buddhist teachings and parables. The materials will be produced in a manner which children and their parents can enjoy reading or watching together, while making it easier for them to get familiarize with the Dharma.
These study kits will be also distributed among the military and police forces, especially for most Korean males in their early 20's participating in the 2-years compulsory national service program. Such materials will give these men a lot of support and courage, and may even help them to endure their hardship in service. Followed up programs will be initiated for these men so that upon their discharge from national service, they will be motivated to continue working on the path of Dharma and to be involved in charitable campaigns.
Unlike traditional Buddhist temples, Shelter aims to use the English Language as a medium to deliver basic Buddhist teachings. This approach differentiates it from other temples, which have been teaching the Dharma using Sutras written in old Chinese letters. This orthodox and traditional method is recognized as a factor which have dispelled the young and old alike from learning Buddhism. Given the current popularity of English, this approach appeals very much with the local populace, a strategy which have been applied effectively by the evangelists to spread Christianity.
Shelter also offers services for local college students and expatriates from European countries, Australia, USA etc., and conducts study groups using selected Buddhist Sutras. It will soon offer online Buddhist courses such as those supplied by Ashoka eDharma University.
For foreigners who wish to meditate or experience Buddhist rites and formalities, Shelter arranges separate temple-stay programs as well.
Ven. Song Hue is now planning to renovate Shelter into one-stop center for needy teens, and will include programs such as judo, computer lessons, practical studies and meditation. These activities will be assisted by local and foreign volunteers.
The center is currently being supported by funds raised among Ven. Song Hue's lay friends and followers.
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To further the efforts of Ven. Song Hue, SHELTER has been included as one of the recipient of the Bodhi Mandala grant.
Buddhism first arrived on the Korean peninsular in 372 A.D. when a monk arrived from China brought Chinese texts and statues. It was an elementary form of Buddhism that he taught, consisting of the teaching of Karma and the search for happiness which seemed to blend well with the indigenous Shamanism, so it was quickly assimilated. -----------
The Buddhist Decline of Korea
by Graeme Lyall, Australia
At that time the peninsular consisted of three separate kingdoms of Koguryo to the north, Paekje to the south west and Shilla on the south east. It was in Koguryo that Buddhism was first established.
In 384 the King of Paekje was converted to Buddhism and decreed that his subjects should follow suit. It was not until 527, however, that Buddhism became established in Shilla where it flourished. In 668 A.D.
Shilla conquered the other kingdoms and Korea was unified. During the United Shilla Period, the arts flourished producing such magnificent items as the Sokuram image, which is in a cave near Kyongju, the beautiful Maitreya image and the Pulguksa temple in Kyongju with its famous twin stupas.
The Koryo Dynasty, which gave its name to present day Korea, assumed power in the 10th century. Its era heralded such important events as the creation of the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of the Buddhist scriptures carved by hand in Chinese characters on over 80,000 wood blocks.
This era also marked the birth of the famous monk Chi-nul who stressed a balance between the "mind only" meditation practice of Son and the study of the scriptures which is today the main feature of Korean Son practice. Chi-nul founded the Songgkwangsa temple on Mount Chogye, and this temple remained the headquarters of the Chogye sect which is the main sect of Korean Son to this day.
From the 14th century, with the assumption to the throne of the Chosun or Yi Dynasty and their adoption of Neo-Confucianism, Buddhism fell into decline. They destroyed all Buddhist temples in the main cities and banished the monks to the mountains where, even today, the main temples are to be found. They decreed that Buddhist temples could not be built near towns but must be sited in the mountains, and the monks were forbidden to enter the cities and were ridiculed. Nevertheless, the common people were undeterred and continued to visit the temples.
With the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945, Buddhism was again tolerated but the celibate monks were forced to take wives. This added to the decline of Buddhism in Korea and was a contributing factor to the upsurge of Christianity.
Today, Korea, which was once a leading Buddhist country, boasts only 50% of the population practicing this religion. The other 50% of the population now embraces an aggresive strain of Christian evangelism.
Christianity has established a presence on the Korean peninsular for over two centuries. However, since the Korean war, it rapidly grew under the influence of American evangelical Christians. The Christian missionaries who came to Korea - unlike their confreres in other Asian countries who rode on the backs of the colonial powers - were anti-colonialist and supported the freedom movements.
They also represented a different culture and religion to Korea's colonial masters (i.e the Japanese), which made them attractive to the oppressed Koreans. Unfortunately, many Christian missionaries are no respecters of the culture and values of their converts. Korean culture could decline further unless the Korean people realise the dangers accompanying the invasion of this alien intruder.
Korea's Buddhists, if they are to preserve their rich culture and traditions must overcome this incursion of alien values. A move that may contribute to the revival of Buddhism in Korea was the holding of the biennial conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Seoul in October, 1990.
Such an important event may assist in reviving an interest and awareness of Buddhism's priceless contribution to Korea's culture among the Korean people and inspire them to return to the religion of their ancestors.
Source: http://www.zip.com.au/~lyallg/Seon.htm