Korea Tibet Center has been regarded as the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). It was officially established in 2003 in Busan, the second largest city of Korea that is well known for its Buddhist community. It is dedicated towards providing spiritual teachings, guidance, and practices of the Mahayana tradition which are rooted from an unbroken lineage tracing
back to Buddha Shakyamuni and the great masters of Nalanda University in ancient India. (The center is also known as Guangsungsa Temple within the Korean community.) Websites, Korean:
http://www.koreatibetcenter.com
http://cafe.daum.net/koreatibetcenter
Teachings
Geshe Sonam offers Lamrim teachings on a weekly basis at the center. He also attends Lamrim study groups in Seoul about once or twice per month. The center has had the honor of hosting precious dharma teachings from accomplished masters and scholars who are lineage holders of the Gelugpa, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya traditions of Tibetan Buddhism:
Khyongla Rato Rinpoche, 2006
His Eminence 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche, 2011
3rd Tsoknyi Rinpoche, 2011
Arjia Rinpoche, 2009
Rato Dratsang Khenpo, 2009
Geshe Palden Drakpa, 2008 - 2009
Geshe Drakpa Gelek, 2007
For a brief bio on these distinguished lamas and scholars, please see the notes page "Visiting Lamas and Scholars: 2006 to Present." Spiritual Director, Abbot, Geshe Sonam Gyaltsen (2004 – present)
Korea Tibet Center has been under the spiritual guidance of Geshe Sonam Gyaltsen since 2004. At age 15, he exiled into India to become a monk at Rato Dratsang Monastery. For centuries in Tibet, Rato Dratsang was a scholastic monastery most renowned as a center for the study of logic. The great fifth Dalai Lama (1614-1682) said the following verse in praise of Rato Dratsang, also known as Tiger Nest Monastery:
In the heart of the dense forest of
Scriptural knowledge,
Lies the Tiger Nest sounding
The roar of the wisdom of logic. May the study of logic to clear the minds,
Forever develop in the boundaries of the upper,
middle, and lower parts of the land of snow. Geshe Sonam attained the highest Geshe Lharampa degree in 1999. He continued his studies at Gyuto Ta***ic Monastery and received the Ngarampa degree one year later. In 2010, he returned to Gyuto and completed the last final examination. Geshe Sonam speaks Tibetan, fluent Korean, conversational Chinese and English. Rato Dratsang Website: http://www.ratodratsangfoundation.org
History
The founding of the Tibetan Buddhist monastery and establishment of the Korea Tibet Center has a connection to the Great Master Hae San (해산 대선사, 1910-1981). On the year of his passing in 1981, the Great Master Hae San had prophesied to his students that a monk from a foreign country would be coming to Guangsungsa Temple (광성사). From 1981 to 1999, several Korean venerable monks had come and gone overseeing Guangsungsa Temple which had been in existence for over 100 years. Then, in 1999, a Tibetan monk arrived at the temple. Thus was the beginning of the Korea Tibet Center. While retaining the original name of Guangsungsa Temple, the Korea Tibet Center was built on its original property and was officially founded as a Tibetan Buddhist dharma center in 2003. About the Great Master Hae San (1910-1981)
Great Master Hae San was born on September 16th, 1910 in Gyeongnam province. In October 1928, he entered as a monk at Woon Moon Temple Sariam (운문사 사리암) and became a student of Venerable Dam Wul (담월 스님). During that time he entered Pyo Choong Temple (표충사) for his studies and was ordained as a biku in April 1938. He later became Abbot of Pyo Choong Temple. Great Master Hae San entered Guang Sung Temple in 1974 and served as the Abbot until his passing in 1981. The Korea Tibet Center offers regular programs for spiritual practice and Tibetan language studies. The center is open to practitioners and anyone interested in exploring or learning about Buddhism. Korean translation service is provided for visiting lamas. Teachings by Geshe Sonam are taught in Korean. For English translation assistance, please contact the center/monastery in advance.
