From Korea
The Korean Buddhist Association encourages reaching out for spiritual growth
By: Kristen Dwyer
Issue date: 11/11/08 Section: Features
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Merriam-Webster's dictionary definition of Buddhism is "a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Gautama Buddha that suffering is inherent in life, and that one can be liberated from it by mental and moral self-purification."
KBA is a student organization that helps Korean students learn and practice Buddhism even when they are away from home.
"I think America is [a] Christian country even though there is freedom to choose religion," Chi Hyung Ahn, an electrical engineering graduate student, said. "As I feel in this meeting, the association wants its members to feel comfortable living with their religion through some activity in it."
KBA was officially formed in 2003 to study and introduce Buddhism to A&M, but an unofficial KBA began 25 years ago by students so they could practice Buddhism with their friends and families.
According to KBA's website, "the purpose of this organization shall be to pursue the truth and to share the joys and sorrows of our members and the neighborhood following Buddha's teaching."
"The first goal of the association is that all members would be wished to finish their study with pursuit of Buddha's teachings and without any troubles," KBA president Min Soo Park, a mechanical engineering graduate student, said. "The second goal of the association is all members after their graduation would follow Buddha's teachings."
Park and Ahn discovered KBA through the organization's website while they were in Korea.
"I thought there was no option as a Buddhist to keep in touch with Buddhism culture in Texas A&M," Ahn said.
Ahn said maintaining relationships with other Buddhists is imperative to spiritual growth.
"What we want with our association is to have relationship among Buddhists," Ahn said. "The relationship in Buddhism culture will help to live in America as a Buddhist."
Ahn said members decide their level of involvement and devotion to KBA and Buddhism.
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