With this season of lovely autumn weather comes an exciting event: Won Buddhism’s 20th Anniversary in North Carolina!

This Sunday, October 26th, we will celebrate 20 years of teaching, meditation, music, a loving community, work, and fun! Special guests from near and far will be here, including Ven. Jooksanim, Won Buddhism USA’s Head Dharma Master. All are welcome, including children (ages 6 & older).

At 10 AM, there will be a special anniversary service at the Chapel Hill Temple. There are two ways you can join us: 

· In person: Our morning service will be followed by a celebration lunch. Please RSVP HERE to help us with planning. 

· Online through this link: 20th Anniversary Celebration (10-11:30 AM, Sunday, Oct. 26)

Celebration Service Program (10-11:30 AM)

• Opening Music: Children’s JangKu Drumming

• Opening Words: Rev. WonGong

• Korean Fan Dance: Sunny Kim

• Meditation, Young Joo & Gratitude Reflection

• Temple History Videos — introduced by Rev. Shaun

• Words of Blessing: Ven. Jooksanim, Head Dharma Master of Won Buddhism USA

• Violin Performance: excerpt from Chaconne (Partita No. 2 in D minor) by J.S. Bach — Jennifer Curtis

• Remarks: Jeff Jackson, North Carolina Attorney General

• Song: Visiting Kyomunims

• Jindo Drum Dance: Sunny Kim

• Closing Meditation: Patty Daniel

  Gentle Qigong on the deck (11:40-12:00): optional

Lunch & Music (12 - 2:30 PM)

• 12 noon: didgeridoo by Crystal

• 12:15-12:30 Guitar by John Miller

• 12:30-1:00 Pan drum by Crystal & tongue drum by Drew

• 1:00-1:10 Children’s drumming

• 1:10-2:00 Native American Flute & percussion jamming by Crystal & Drew

• 2:00-2:30 Korean drumming dance by Team Owlim

Temple Open House
(12-5 pm, Saturday, October 18)

Celebrate Autumn with family and friends at our Open House! 

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Won Buddhism in North Carolina, so this autumn's Open House is an especially meaningful one. Please come and celebrate our NC sangha at this wonderful event! 

As the heart of our community, your presence will make this day especially bright! We hope to see you there!

TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, October 18, 2025
12 Noon - 5 PM

Schedule of Events:

- 12 Noon: Gathering at Il-Won Garden (music & snacks)

- 1 PM: Opening Ceremony

- 2-5 PM: Mini-classes and Activities

Dharma Hall

• Sound Bath

• Dharma Hall Experience with Meditation

• Qi Gong

Residence

• Gift Shop

• Tea Ceremony

Outdoors

• Temple Musical Instrument Petting Zoo

• Drumming & Music

• Korean Pancakes & Bake Sale

• Games and Art

Year-end Letting-Go Ceremonies

Our in-person ceremonies are full.
Please enjoy our livestream of the online ceremony via YouTube Live (starts at 7:30 pm.)

Dear Friends,

On December 31, we will be offering Year-end Letting-go Ceremonies.

• 4:00-5:15 PM Year-end Letting-go Ceremony (In-Person Only)

• 7:30-8:45 PM Year-end Letting-go Ceremony (In-Person & Online)

Each program will include:

• Guided meditation and contemplation of the past year

• Karma burning ceremony: On a piece of paper, we will write down our heaviness and regrets from 2024 and burn our lists to enter the new year with a refreshed mind.

Children ages 10 and older are welcome (If they can safely hold lighted candles and enjoy sitting still for 5 minutes.)

For your reference, Here is the video of the previous ceremony.

We hope you can join us for one of these ceremonies. If you wish to join in person, please sign up. In consideration to others, please sign up only if you can commit to showing up.

Spritual Thanksgiving Service
10 AM (ET), Sunday, December 1

(Livestream & In Person at the Chapel Hill Temple)

During this Thanksgiving month, we are blessed to rekindle our hearts of gratitude! On Sunday, December 1st, we will gather to celebrate and honor our deceased loved ones at our annual Spiritual Thanksgiving Service. Please bring photos of your ancestors and deceased family members, friends, pets, and anyone deceased who has been special in your life. This service will also include a guided meditation on gratitude, chants, prayers, and music. Children are invited to attend with their families! 

Please click here to add the names of your deceased loved ones you would like to honor. Their names will be included in a prayer at the service.

Community Potluck

Immediately after our special Thanksgiving service, everyone is warmly invited to stay for a community potluck at the Residence with fellowship and good cheer.

If you’d like to share a dish, please bring a ready-to-serve dish that feeds 10 people to the Residence between 9:30-9:50 AM before the service begins. Include a card listing the ingredients. If you plan to contribute a dish or beverage, please go to this Link to Thanksgiving Meal Sign Up. Please don’t feel obligated to bring a dish—there always is plenty to share. The most important thing to bring is yourself!

Any questions? Please contact our potluck coordinator,
Holly: hollynorth20@gmail.com