Saturday, May 8, 2010

The Socialist Soteasan: Chung Bin Park

Chung-bin Park also known as Soteasan - One of his mottos was:- As material civilization develops, cultivate spiritual civilization accordingly. Born in 1891 he attained Enlightenment (nirvana) in 1916 after twenty years of struggle. Object of worship is the Ill-Won-sang or perfect circle which represents the Dharmakaya Buddha. No Buddha statues. Doctrine based on Three Principles - Cultivation of spiritual stability, study of Facts and Principles, Selection of Right Conduct as well as cultivation of the four graces of Heaven and earth, Parents, Brethren and the Law. Also emphasises the practice of Son - meditation at all times. Aims to build towards United Religions (U.R) and the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace.
I can easily claim, He was definitely a Socialist.
Under Japanese occupation, he was arrested many times. Yet he even won over some Japanese followers. He stated not even alienating people who where oppressors because they where human also and could change for the better. His message was about peace and harmony amongst all people.
"If I where to have Children in many Parts of the world, and they where of different races, I would love them all the same because they are all part of me. As the human race is part of one original source."The worldwide Buddhist community, as an humane whole, transcends divisions prevalent in society today. Social and economic development efforts are undertaken by Buddhists everywhere, International Buddhist wish to foster a new world, transcending race and religions. To bring a consciousness to society in the Global Village.Buddhist feel social and economic development generally take the form of progressive reformist and revolutionary initiatives carried out by Co-operative groups of people in the Cities and Rural areas in which they live. As these initiatives evolve, some grow into more sustantial programs with permanent administrative structures. Buddhist encourage both frugal and cost effectiveness. Changing society from one of wastefulness, to one that takes care of the Earth and Communities.At the heart of all Buddhist development takes recognition of a deep and inseparable connection between the practical and spiritual aspects of daily life. Creating a desire for social change and instilling confidence that it can be achieved must ultimately come from an awakening of the human spirit. Cultivating the spiritual and humane roots of human motivation provides the essential impulse that ensures genuine social advancement.Workers in the development field have increasingly come to understand that the creation and diffusion of knowledge lie at the heart of social progress. Buddhist social and economic development is therefore focused on increasing the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to take concrete steps that foster Enlightenment and material well-being. This process of capacity building involves a global enterprise of Education in which Buddhists from virtually every cultural and ethnic background work to apply the methods of science and the moral and spiritual insights found in the the Buddhist teachings to their particular local conditions. It is a Karmic Process in which every local communities gradually improve their ability to define, analyze, and meet the needs of the community. From the Buddhist point of view the set of efforts necessary for building up the social, economic, and moral fabric of life must draw upon the resources of both the mind and the heart. By fully integrating spiritual principles into community development activities, ideas, values, and practical measures emerge that promote self-reliance and safeguard human dignity. In this way, patterns of dependency are avoided and conditions of inequality are progressively eliminated.Won Buddhism has a view of world peace which spiritual. WON BUDDHIST PROPOSALS FOR WORLD PEACE: Won Buddhism nor Buddhism in general, is not confined to one nation or one race. Won Buddhism goals to go beyond any boundaries or obstructions. The founder of Won Buddhism advocates and claims that all religions meet at the thought of lrwonism because the final goal of religions is one and the same. Morality(The Morality based on the Three Principles of Identity). The First Principle of Identity, "All Doctrines Have the Same Origin," suggests that each religion should expand beyond its own boundaries to open up to other religions, since all religions share one Truth and the same goal. The Second Principle of Identity, "All Living Beings Are Related by the Same Force (of Life)," suggests that the human race ought to live as brothers, free from fighting or resentment, since all human beings are of one family. The Third Principle of Identity, "All Enterprises Are for the Same Purpose', suggests that all human enterprises and assertions need to cooperate with each other, rather than rejecting one another, in order to construct a better world on earth. Chongsan's spirit of Samdong Morality is succeeded by Taesan's proposals for world peace, namely, cultivation of the mind-field, development of a worldwide market and the united religions movement "Cultivation of the Mind-field" purposes to foster the strength of mind, which can then make good use of scientific and technological advancement. Otherwise, human beings become enslaved to materialism and degenerate due to the influence of advanced science and technology. Development of a Worldwide Market" purposes to promote international cooperation without confinement to national or racial interests, so the all human beings are equally provided with affluent material conditions in clothing, food, and shelter for their physical needs. The United Religions Movement" purposes to free the individual from one's own religious egotism and boundaries, and to fulfill the original mission of religion. In furtherance of the goal of religious cooperation, the Won Buddhist community proposes to establish an institutionalized organization for world religions comparable to, and on parallel with, the United Nations organization. The Won Buddhist community will take the lead in removing the boundaries and barriers of the past, and creating one global family on earth, in tandem with other religious communities.For further readings The Kyojon and Tea Kyojon are on line. Won Buddhist Teachings. I recommend To Tuk: The Path of Humanity. In the Second Book. Read his examples.