Inauguration of the Center for Asian Studies at Bultasa Temple

To accommodate Korean and Buddhist studies, Chicago’s Bultasa Temple has newly opened the Center for Asian Studies. Sponsored by the Korean Monastic Association of America and Hwagyesa Temple in Seoul, the inauguration’s keynote speaker was Sudeoksa Temple family’s spiritual patriarch Ven. Seoljeong.

Bultasa Temple purchased an adjacent building in May 2007 and after more than two years of remodeling; a 12,000 square-foot education center has been completed. This center has had exhibitions, meditation, performances, etc. Its primary purpose will be for the education of Buddhist and Korean Studies. The day’s event had two parts: inauguration and discussion forum. During the inauguration, many monastics and Buddhists from all over the toured the center as the abbot Ven. Hyeonseong read the aspiration prayer. The M.C. was Ven. Hyetong from Providence Zen Center . The second part was a discussion session led by Ven. Jikwang, vice-abbot of New York’s Won-gaksa Temple . The theme was “Increasing Dharma Propagation in .” There were presentations on dharma propagation for children, teenagers, and the general public respectively.

Ven. Hyeseong said, “We will devote ourselves to share the dharma using the Avalokiteshvara Hall (Kwanumjeon) in the new center. I’d like to thank Most Ven. Seoljeong, who came all the way from , monks and nuns of the monastic association, and fellow Buddhists for coming to this event. I will collect the data from the discussion meeting to use as guidelines for dharma propagation outside of .

Most Ven. Seoljeong said, “It has been a meaningful event as many monastics living outside of gathered to discuss the role of Buddhism in society.”