Dongguk University is a Buddhist University with a long tradition and history. Its precepts are wisdom, compassion, and endeavor, and the founding spirit includes cultivating academics and personalities based on the Buddhist spirit. At Dongguk University, where the Buddhist spirit is paramount, a variety of Buddhist education is offered, allowing students to study Buddhism and integrate it into their daily lives. The Dongguk Post finds out what kind of Buddhism-related lectures are available to Donggukians, then look at the implications of these classes on our lives.
Special liberal arts course that can only be taken at Dongguk University
Dongguk University offers a variety of liberal arts courses that combine Buddhism and liberal arts. Beyond just learning Buddhist wisdom in writing, Donggukians can also practice meditation.
<Practice in Seon> lectures are aimed at establishing a true and creative human image through self-understanding and meditation. The lecture consists of two courses: Practice in Seon 1 and 2, both of which Donggukians are required to take during the semester. In this class, students learn basic meditation methods from monks, such as posture and breathing, and experience them directly. Jeong Ji-yeon (Department of Business Administration, 22) told that after first encountering the walking meditation method through classes, she incorporated walking meditation into her daily routine, dedicating 10 to 20 minutes to it each day. She said that she found vitality and relaxation in her daily life compared to before meditation. In this way, through meditation classes, Donggukians have the chance to accept Buddhism as a religion that is helpful for their lives.
The <Buddhism&Human Being> course allows students to have a broad understanding of the Buddha’s life and teachings and have the right values. The course is centered around four primary objectives: understanding Buddhism’s fundamental teachings, learning the historical and cultural context of Buddhist traditions, developing humanities through the understanding of Buddhism, and learning ways to incorporate Buddhist teachings in modern daily life. This lecture theoretically deals not only with the life of the Buddha, but also with the teachings of Buddhism, including the five elements that make up humans and the eight ways that sentient beings must perform in order to reach Nirvana.
Also, Dongguk University has newly opened the course so that students can spend time in the temple. This course is designed to help Donggukians, who have difficulty reflecting on themselves in their busy daily lives due to hands on lectures, reflect on and discover their inner selves through Temple Stay during the semester. Unlike ordinary classes, the course attracted the attention of many Donggukians because it provided a different experience in a new environment, away from a fixed place. As a result, 14 students (juniors or seniors) were able to take the course, but 670 students applied for the course, recording a high competition rate of about 48:1.
Major subjects that are combined with Buddhism
In addition to the three liberal arts courses above, Dongguk University offers various Buddhist-related major courses. The course, which was established by the Department of Business Administration, is a lecture subject that has curated Western analytical concepts and theories about personnel organization and reorganized this knowledge into Buddhist wisdom based on major Buddhist scriptures such as the “Banyasimgyeong” and the “Diamond Sutra.” This course aims to cultivate wisdom about people and organizational management through Buddhist logical structures and perspectives, not just from the perspective of the Western personnel organization field.
<Media and Buddhist Poetry Creation Introduction>, opened by the Department of Korean Literature and Creation, is a class consisting of theories and practices that examines the characteristics of Buddhist imagination and creates Buddhist poetry accepted in modern Korean poetry. A student who took the class said, “I was able to cultivate my creative ability along with Buddhist thoughts about poetry,” and hoped that more lectures would be opened in the future that combine major subjects and Buddhism.
Donggukians can practice Buddhist activities through Buddhist liberal arts classes, and can take classes that are different from existing major subjects through classes that incorporate Buddhism into major courses. This Buddhist curriculum aims to foster convergent talents pursued by today’s society by contributing to students’ growth into talented people with Buddhist wisdom and knowledge, not just studying major subjects. These courses are open to all Donggukians, making them accessible to those interested in exploring Buddhism and taking special classes to enhance their educational experience.