Korean Bhikkhun

Notes from the Publisher 4

Author's Comments 13



Ⅰ. What is a Bhikkhunī(Buddhist nun)?



1. Renouncing Secular Life to Become a Monk 24

2. On Becoming a Monk and Practice 34

3. A Bhikkhunī and A Bhikkhu 48

4. The First Bhikkhunīs and Their Stories 59



Ⅱ. The Path to Become a Bhikkhunī



1. The Path to Become a Bhikkhunī: Enlightenment and Ordination 82

2. The History of the Ordination Ceremony 97

3. Restoration of and Problems with the Bhikkhunī Ordination Tradition 102



Ⅲ. Bhikkhunīs in Buddhist History



1. The Bhikkhunīs the Buddha Praised 108

2. The Transmission of Buddhism to Korea

and the First Korean Bhikkhunīs 118

3. Some Prominent Bhikkhunīs in Korean History 125



Ⅳ. The Activities of Bhikkhunīs in Korea Today



1. Relationship between a teacher and a disciple: A Respected Teacher is a Fellow Practitioner 165

2. Buddhist Lecture: Dhamma is Wisdom 173

3. Keeping Precept: Precept as a teacher 188

4. Seon meditation: Meditate to Gain Insight 195

5. Missionary Activities: To Spread Dhamma is the Greatest Act of Compassion 217

6. Welfare: The Ultimate Practice is Giving 229

7. Culture: Sharing Artistic Sensibilities is the Lubricant of Life 242

8. Organization: An Organization of Harmony and Compassion 249



Ⅴ. The Korean Bhikkhunī Dhamma Family Today



1. Cheonghae Dhamma family (靑海門中) 273

2. Gyemin Dhamma family (戒珉門中) 277

3. Beopgi Dhamma family (法起門中) 280

4. Samhyun Dhamma family (三賢門中) 283

5. Sujeong Dhamma family (水晶門中) 286

6. Bongrae Dhamma family (蓬萊門中) 289

7. Yukhwa Dhamma family (六和門中) 292

8. Silsang Dhamma family (實相門中) 297

9. Boun Dhamma family (普雲門中) 300

10. Ilyeop Dhamma family (一葉門中) 303

11. Bomunjong Dhamma family (普門宗門中) 306

12. Other Dhamma families (其他門中) 308



Glossary 309

하춘생 Dr. Ha Choon-Sang is a professor in charge of the Department of Buddhist Temple Management at GraduateSchool of Management, Dongguk University, and is the Director of Wooseong Research Institute of Buddhist Studies & Culture. His Dhamma name is Wooseong (宇晟). He received the precepts from Ven. Master Cheonghwa (淸華) at Taean-sa emple in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do Province. He is regarded a pioneer in the field of Korean Bhikkhuni Dhamma family research and is an expert on Korean Bhikkhunīs, a group that has historically been marginalized and disparaged by Korea's traditionally male-dominated mainstream Buddhism. This English version should be a very valuable resource for a better understanding of Bhikkhunīs and their history, not only here in Korea but around the world.