Dongsasub: A History

• Dongsasub is a meditation program focused on happiness

• Founded by Ven. Yongtah Sunim 33 years ago

• Two locations: Happy Village in Hamyang, Happy Village in Seoul

• Over 20,000 participants to date

Ven. Yongtah Sunim

• Elder monk of the Chogye Order of Korean Buddhism

• Became a monk on Aug. 15th, 1964

• Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees in Philosophy

• Spent time in Minnesota and California as Abbot

Purpose of DongsasubWhat is the purpose of life? – Happiness

What is happiness?– Good feeling

What is the subject of happiness?– Me/Us

Therefore, the purpose of life is our happiness

Ignorance, Desire, Anger

• Cycle of:

• = Dissatisfaction • E.g. Money, Power, Fame

Conceptualization

ValueDesire

Anger

Five Principles of Life

True Self

Life Purpose

Heart/Mind Training

Acts of Good

Harmony

True Self

• Understanding one’s identity

Life Purpose

• To live our lives for the sake of a brighter and more joyful world

• To live for the happiness of all beings

Heart/Mind Training

• Create a joyful paradise within• Attain inner peace

Harmony

• Foster harmonious inter-personal relationships

• Foundation in mutual interest, sympathy, and communication

Right Action

• Loving speech• Acts of kindness• Doing your best to fulfill your tasks and

responsibilities

Dongsasub Meditations• Gratitude Meditation– Be grateful for the things you have– Exercise: a common object (e.g. a kettle)– List as many reasons to be thankful for the object– E.g. I’m thankful the handle on the kettle is

plastic so I don’t get burnt

Death Meditation• Liberating yourself from the anxieties of dying• Letting go of attachments to life• E.g. Parents, children, self

I ( 주기 ) II ( 받기 )

表 現

感 知

反 應

共 感

關 心

Four Virtues of Relationships

Four Virtues of Relationships• There are four outcomes of human interaction:

Me Other

Four Virtues of Relationships, contd.

• Four skillful responses to the four outcomes:

Give Selflessly

Thank Sincerely

Apologize Deeply

Show Clemency

Aphorisms (Choncheol)

• The absence of expression is an absence of substance and/or intention• Emotion is the first sound of life• The essential traits of a mature character are minute details + feelings• We already know everything there is to know; it is simply a matter of

review and practice

Dongsasub Programs• Hamyang 함양

– Beginner: 5 nights 6 days; 600,000 Won– Intermediate: 3 nights 4 days; 500,000 Won 원– Advanced: 3 nights 4 days; 1,000,000 Won– Master: 1 night 2 days a month for a total of 18 months; 2,700,000 Won

• Seoul 서울– Beginner (Harmony OR Heart/Mind Training): 2 nights 3 days (no overnight stay);

300,000 per course

• Fulfilling both the Harmony and Heart/Mind Training courses is equivalent to the Beginner course at Hamyang.

http://seoul.dongsasub.orghttp://www.dongsasub.org

jainamchun@gmail.com

at Dongsasub’s Seoul Center. Jai Chun