Cheongam-sa Temple Became the Central Practice Center for Korean Taegeukwon

The Sangha Graduate School for precept study at the Sangha College of Cheongsam-sa Temple in Gimcheon will take over the Korea Taegeukwon Association and Society. Taegeukwon is a form of martial arts.

Ven. Jihyeong, the dean of the Sangha College of Cheongsam-sa Temple; Sunim Sangdeok, the abbot of Cheongam-sa Temple; Dong-Ho Lee, the ex-chairman of the board of the Korea Taegeukwon Association; and Gil-Hyeon Oh, the ex-chairman of the board of the Korea Taegeukwon Society, held a change-over ceremony at the world Tripitaka research office in the Jongui building in Jeonju on July 13th. Twenty people were present at the ceremony, including Mun-Seok Yang, the president of the Federation of Korean Taegeukwon; its executives; Jong-Won Kim, the secretary general of the Korea Council of Sport; and sunims in the Sangha Graduate School for precept study.

Cheongam-sa Temple received the Korea Taegeukwon Association as a gift—a mujusangbosi (無住相布施: non-abiding charity, charity with no set mind, or offering of blessing without expectation of return)—from Dong-Ho Lee, the former chairman of the board. As a hospital director and internist, Dong-Ho Lee has been one of the disciples of Dharma Instructor Hyeon-gong Ju-Il Yun. Yun cultivated Buddha mind in the Honam region.

As a devout Buddhist, Dong-Ho Lee has had a relationship with Cheongam-sa Temple since 1969. The connection began when Lee visited Cheongam-sa Temple’s Sangha College, and provided a free clinic to the student sunims. Lee has been practicing Taegeukwon for forty years, and has received a ninth-degree black belt in Taegeukwon. He has taught Taegeukwon once a month at Chengam-sa Temple since 1997.

[불교신문 2836호/ 7월28일자]