Korean Buddhist Jogye Order Donates $1 Million to Yale University for Buddhist Studies

- through Henry Oudin

Published

From yale.edu

Yale University has received a $10 million gift from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist order in South Korea, to support its Buddhist studies program. The contribution, received on October XNUMX, marks a milestone as it is the largest gift the Jogye Order has made to a foreign institution and the first time the Order has made a financial contribution to a foreign university.

The donation stems from the Jogye Order’s relationship with Hwansoo Kim, a professor of Buddhism and Korean culture at Yale. Professor Kim, who became a monk in the Jogye Order at age 15, has a close relationship with the organization. The university said the donation will be used to sponsor workshops, conferences and events, as well as bring in prominent speakers.

Professor Kim played a central role in expanding Yale’s Buddhist Studies Initiative during his tenure as chair of the Council on East Asian Studies. “All my fellow monks and nuns know who I am and trust me to use it well,” he said.Yale Daily News)

Professor Kim explained that the Jogye Order had asked for ways to support its academic work at Yale, particularly in promoting Korean Buddhism. He noted that the order has many priorities in Korea, making the investment even more special. Professor Kim added that the gift is part of the Jogye Order’s broader mission to internationalize its efforts.

Fri. Jinwoo. At yaledailynews.com

A delegation of about 50 representatives from South Korea traveled to Yale for the donation ceremony, including Venerable Jinwoo, head monk of the Jogye Order, and Professor Jae-woong Yun, president of Dongguk University. The group was originally in the United States to attend events in New York, but decided to travel to Yale to make their contribution after learning of the university’s plans to expand its Buddhist studies program. The 30-minute donation ceremony took place in the Yale president’s office and was followed by a dinner hosted by MacMillan Center director Steven Wilkinson, in the presence of Yale faculty and the visiting Korean delegation.

Following the ceremony, Ven. Jinwoo spoke at an event hosted by the Yale Macmillan Center and the Council on East Asian Studies, discussing his journey as a Buddhist monk and the significance of this gift for the academic study of Buddhism in American universities. “Yale is one of the most prestigious universities in America, and Korean Buddhism, through Seon meditation, strives to spread the teachings of peace and happiness to everyone in the world,” Ven. Jinwoo said. (Yale Daily News)

Ven. Jinwoo also spoke about the importance of meditation and its practical applications in daily life. He encouraged students to incorporate Seon meditation into their daily routine and led a five-minute silent meditation.

The following day, Ven. Jinwoo visited the United Nations to advocate for the establishment of a World Meditation Day, emphasizing his desire for all people to find peace and freedom from suffering: “In my approach to life, instead of living with both happiness and unhappiness, I choose to be free from both and be at peace. I am at peace at all times and in all places.”Yale Daily News)

Eric Greene, associate professor of religious studies and coordinator of the Buddhist Studies Initiative at Yale, emphasized the broader academic significance of the gift. Professor Greene noted that historically, relatively little attention has been paid in the United States to the study of Asian religions, particularly Korean Buddhism. “While Buddhist studies is only one part of this,” Greene wrote, “I hope that by expanding Buddhist studies at Yale, we can help make these fields of study more prominent, both in scholarship and in undergraduate education.” (Yale Daily News)

The study of Buddhism at Yale has deep roots dating back to the 19th century, but the addition of the new gift from the Jogye Order is expected to significantly enhance the university's ability to advance the study of Korean Buddhism in particular, as well as Asian religious traditions more broadly.

See more

Yale Receives $1 Million Gift for Buddhist Studies (Yale Daily News)
Buddhist Studies Initiative (MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale)
(Korea Beyond Korea) Buddhism scholar determined to expand Korean studies at Yale (The Korean Herald)

Related news reports from BDG

Khyentse Foundation Announces Appointment of Dr. Jörg Heimbel as Professor of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Jogye Order Prepares to Show 'True Face of Buddhism' at Seon International Meditation Convention in Seoul
University of Edinburgh launches full MA in Buddhist Studies
National University of Singapore announces launch of new Buddhist studies group

BDG Related Features

A Tribute to the Late Professor Kapila Abhyawansa (1938-2024): A Torchbearer of Buddhist StudiesSecuring the Future of Buddhist Scholarship: The Robert HN Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies at ACLS
The Rangjung Yeshe Institute and the Future of Buddhist Studies: Perspectives from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Dr. Thomas Doctor

The article Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Donates $1 Million to Yale University for Buddhist Studies appeared first on Buddhadoor Global.

photo of author

Henry Oudin

Henry Oudin is a Buddhist scholar, spiritual adventurer and journalist. He is a passionate seeker of the depths of Buddhist wisdom, and travels regularly to learn more about Buddhism and spiritual cultures. By sharing his knowledge and life experiences on Buddhist News, Henry hopes to inspire others to embrace more spiritual and mindful ways of living.

Leave comments