Have you ever heard about Korean Buddhism or famous Korean monk like Sung-Chul or Sung-san???

As far as I know, Korean Buddhism is characterized as a plural and mixed Buddhism, sucha as Non-zen Buddhism and zen buddhism is mixed and
Indian Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism is mixed and etc...

But I want to know what do you guys know about Koren Buddhism.

Hi Andy ...

Korea was instrumental in the transmission of Dharma to Japan back in the mid-6th century.

You ever hear of Miluk-sa? King MU of the Paek-jae?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_of_Baekje

It relates to a Maitreya prophecy. As with many i think this is quite fascinating and would like to learn more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miruksa

i also know of Chogye & Won Bulgyu.

Not much really
*shrugs*

One of my friends is quite cynical b/c she believes Korean Buddhism is quite corrupt.

Likely some truth to this, still, also must be many sincere monks & lay people as well.

Why don't you tell us what distinguishes Korean Buddhism from other traditions etc?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Buddhism

Son-bul Haseyo.

I'm very excited to hear "Son-bul Haseyo" from you!!!

Do you know Korean traditional food "Bibimbap"?
It's mixture of every vegetables, rice, sauce, egg, etc.
Onething I can tell you about Korean Buddhism is that it really resembles
"Bibimbap"
It's every mixture of Buddhism all over the world, because it's in the end of far east Asia and transmitting route of Buddhism from India. That means it can be seen as unordered, and sometimes looks corrupt but also we can say that Korean Buddhism has a good harmony between Zen buddhism and Non-Zen (the Sutras).

Another charateristic of Korean Buddhism is most of its temple is placed in the deep mountain. This is because of historical reason. About 500 years ago, Chosun dynasty achieved the power which believe the Confucianism is the most important ideology. So they persecuted Buddhism and monks ran away and placed in the deep mountain.
In consequence, secular creed was kept, and Buddhism tend to focus on individual awareness of Dharma rather then evangelization to the public.

Is it good enough??

Yes i know bee-beem-bap.

Eat it quite often. Never heard the analogy you made.

i.e. Korean Buddhism = BEE-beem-bap

Good one!

Yes, Buddhism has been persecuted at various stages in Asia throughout the years.

Even still, i'll like to become a Buddhist one day

Do you mean perhaps Seung Sahn?



As I understand it the main strand of buddhism in Korea is Seon - conventionally now, Zen; but that when Cha'an reached korea through debates and other interactions the perspective of the prexisting Buddhist tradition called Gyo which was more text and learning orientated was fused with the anti-textural tendencias of Cha'an. I havn't yet worked out what difference this makes in practice, so far all I found out is that the Kwan Um school chant the heart sutra in korean, where the Soto school chant it in Japanese. I plan to visit a Ch'an group later this week, and a Kwan Um thing tomorrow so hopefully I'll find out eventually.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Korea