The history of the temple goes back to the day when a devout Buddhist woman named Miss Munghwa Hado met a kindly monk. Miss Hado had a farm on the northern edge of Busan, and she had a dream of building a temple on the land of her farm someday: a temple that would be devoted to spreading the message of the Buddha’s teachings to all the people of Korea and even the world. She waited patiently for many years, seeking a sign that it was the right time to begin this great project. One day, in 1992, she met a kind Buddhist monk who shared her desire to help others. On that day, Heongbeopsa was born.
The Kind Soul of the Venerable Shimsan
That monk was named Shimsan. As the Head Monk of Hongbeopsa, he has devoted his life to making the dream of that Miss Hado a reality. As he helped plan and build the temple he always kept in mind it’s primary purpose: to show people the freedom and happiness available through the practice of Buddhism. And though the temple itself is an incredible place filled with love and joy, the greatest demonstration of the Buddhist way has always been the kindness of the Head Monk Shimsan himself. When you meet him (and he often makes time to visit with guests to the temple) you will feel you are in the presence of someone very special. He seems to radiate a contagious sense of peace and equanimity.
Spreading Buddha’s Teachings Far and Wide
It was always Miss Hado’s desire that the temple a beacon to draw people towards the Buddha’s teachings. The symbol of this idea is the giant Buddha which sits atop the main temple, visible from many miles away. The temple is a special place where you can experience a deep sense of community. There are many programs to attract visitors to the temple, including cultural events like traditional music performances and kimchi-making classes, templestay experiences, and even soccer tournaments. Visitors have told me that they always feel at home at the temple, and that is no accident.