Taego Order - Training For Clergy

Training For Clergy

The training for Taego clergy is similar to that of the Jogye Order, except that prior to ordination, all Taego clergy must complete a two-year program of study at the Taego order's university in South Korea, Dong Bang University. After the samanera/samaneri (novice) ordination, Taego (and Jogye) monks and nuns can study at a gangwon which is a traditional academic institute similar to a Tibetan shedra. Another option in both orders is to train in a seonwon. This consists of two roughly three-month retreats per year. Generally a monk or nun would travel and train at more than one seonwon under more than one master. A modern education, generally in Buddhist Studies, is also an option in both orders. However, in the Taego order, training at a yeombulwon is also an option. This consists of training in ritual and traditional arts, most notably ritual dance and music, a tradition not kept alive in the larger Jogye order. In fact, when such ritual specialists are needed, the Jogye order will generally invite Taego ritual specialists to perform, though the Taego monks will wear the brown kasa of the Jogye order out of respect to their Jogye hosts.

The curriculum for a gangwon is as follows according to the Bishop of the Overseas Parish, Venerable Dr. Jongmae Park (note that transliterations for Zen Master's names is not currently available):

First year: Chi-Moon (緇門 / teachings of Zen master 智賢水中); Ah-Ham (Nikayasutta / 阿含經); Study second language (English, Chinese, Japanese etc.)

Second year: Doh-Suh (都序 / teachings of Zen master 宗密); Jeol-Yo (節要 / teachings of Zen master 普照); Suh-Jaang (書狀 / teaching of Zen master 大慧); Seon-Yo (禪要 / teachings of Zen master 高峰)

Third year: Nung-Om-Kyong (Suramgamasutra / 楞嚴經); Ki-Shin-Ron (Mahayanasraddotpadasastra / 大乘起信論); Kum-Kaang-Kyong (Vajraprajnaparamitasutra / 金剛經); Won-Gaak-Kyong (Mahavaipulyaprunabuddhasutra / 圓覺經)

Fourth year: Hwa-Om-Kyong (Buddhaavatamsakamahavaipulyasutra / 大方廣佛華嚴經)

For novice monastics who study at a gangwon, yeombulwon, seonwon or modern academic institution to fulfill their basic education requirement, four years of study/training are required. After this, they may be ordained a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni if they pass an examination and then either work at a temple in a capacity similar to that of a "parish priest," or continue their training and education. For students at a gangwon, they would then study for four years at a yulwon which is a Vinaya school. Upon graduation they would be known as Vinaya masters. For this reason, yulwon students must be celibate. Yeombulwon students may request private tutoring for further training. For training in Seon (Zen), there is no "graduation" after a specific number of years. In rare cases, one may receive "Inka" (Dharma transmission) from a master of Seon after 20 or 30 years of practice. However, Dharma transmission in the Korean Seon tradition is extremely rare.