Our Reverends

Our reverends are available for counseling, spiritual guidance, or tea ceremony. You may make an appointment by phone or email. The recommended donation is $20-$50 per session. No one will be turned away due to financial limitations.

Rev. WonGong (affectionately known as Rev. Wow!) is a lifetime dedicated dharma teacher. She started her training in 1988 and was ordained a Kyomunim (dharma teacher) in 1994 after seven years of intensive training in Korea. She subsequently served in the Gangnam Temple in Seoul and the Rockville Temple in Maryland. She obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland and worked as a therapist and in Child Protective Services.

Rev. WonGong has established Won temples in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a guest lecturer at schools, colleges and meditation centers, teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation. She leads workshops, retreats, and youth dharma camps, integrating creative forms of meditation—body movement, vocalizing & breathing techniques, guided meditation, and laughter. She is a leading Korean-to-English translator of dharma teachings, serving as a spiritual bridge between East and West.

Rev. WonGong loves gardening, flower arranging, and singing. She has released two albums: Chants of Samadhi for Daily Practice and Chants for Healing.

Rev. Ahn Jeong Eun began her journey as a Won Buddhist minister in 2013. She served at Dongyeong Won Buddhist Temple in Korea, where she focused on youth ministry and worked closely with young people and their families. She later worked in the International Department at Won Buddhism Headquarters, providing administrative support for international ministry.

In May 2026, she was appointed to North Carolina Won Buddhist Temple, where she currently leads Dharma services, meditation, mind practice, and a variety of programs for the temple community.

Rev. Ahn hopes to share the joy of mind practice—learning to understand our minds, transform our lives, and cultivate a more balanced and compassionate way of living. She is committed to creating a warm and welcoming community where people of all ages can learn and practice the teachings of Won Buddhism together and grow through their daily lives.