About the temple

Won Kwang Sa Temple is providing a traditional Korean yet distinctly Western Zen training to people of all ages, lifestyles and religious backgrounds. With a residential community of sunims and lay trainees, Won Kwang Sa offers a wide variety of programs and retreats. The temple grounds consist of more than 5 hectares of beautiful forest land in the Pilis Mountains of Hungary. The temple offers many opportunities for self-study and introspection, as well as being with the community, and doing one of the most important forms of training: together action. When we look into the mirror of our own minds, as well as our fellow practitioners reflect our karma back to us, we can find the correct direction for our lives, attain our true self and save all beings from suffering.

TEMPLE BUILDINGS

Won Kwang Sa Temple has currently 7 buildings that provide the most important space for practice and living.

Zen Hall

The Zen Hall together with the teacher's room and changing room (see below) occupy 114 sq.m, the Zen Hall alone is 84 sq.m. The main construction work finished at the end of January,  2010. The Opening Ceremony took place on April 4, 2010 with over 150 guests from all over the world (see the pictures here).

The Zen Hall was designed by Hungarian architects and the main roof and structure work was done also by Hungarian professionals, who visited Korea two years ago to study the original source. The interior works were done by many helpers from various countries. You can see the pictures from the construction here.

The main hall provides enough space for 35 people comfortably, up to 70 if necessary.

The changing room serves for dressing into formal robes and storing equipment for retreats.

Teacher's Room

This tiny room with beautiful bathroom is part of the Zen Hall building. It serves for accommodation of our guest teachers from anywhere in the world.

Support Building

Construction of the supporting building with bathrooms and kitchen was completed in 2007. You can see picture from the very beginning until today here.

There is also a furnace room with a washing machine and a drier. The furnace provides warm water to the floor heating in both buildings.

Above the furnace rom, there is a boiler and water tank room, storing 900 liters of warm water, 2000 liters cold water and 300 liters of floor heating water.

Office

The office building was finished in October, 2009. You can see picture from the very beginning until today here.

With 30  sq.m, it serves as the main meeting point and the working space for the temple core-team. There is a public library, Dharma shop and a public computer. The entire office area as well as the teacher's room in the Zen Hall have a wifi as well as wired internet connection.

Dormitory for women ("The Big House")

This house is a property of our Sangha members. They recently moved out to Israel and are looking for a buyer. In the mean-time, we use this beautiful house for accommodation for women residents and guests. The house has a great furnace, bathroom and kitchen and a fascinating view on foresty hills.

Dormitory for men ("Brick-house")

The brick-house was part of the property when we bought it. It needed some basic reconstruction, new windows, doors, floor and a stove. For nearly 4 years, we used it as a Dharma room. Since we have the new Zen Hall, it serves as a dormitory for male residents and guests.

Interview Room

The small house (10 sq.m.) serves as a residence for the temple Abbot, as well as the room for kongan interviews.

Summer Kitchen

The summer kitchen is the latest construction project. Though unfinished on the outside, the kitchen is fully operational, with 6-ring gas cooker, industrial fridge and an oven.

There will be two doors installed later, and equipped with a large preparation desk with shelves underneath.

Garden House

The garden house is one of those four buildings that we bought as a part of the property. It went through heavy reconstruction. Now half of the house serves for workshop, the other half is the dormitory of our garden master.

Temple Grounds

Number of temple buildings: 7

Useful interior area: 320 sq.m.

Size of land area: 5 hectares