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Rev. WonGong looks into the camera and smiles as she stands with her palms together. Behind her is a white wall as well as a wooden bench with a plant and some flowers on it.

Interview Details

Interviewee(s):

Rev. Jeong So WonGong

Interviewer(s):

Luke Davis

Date of Interview:

December 2, 2023

Communities:

Korean, South Korea

About

A group of people, all facing the same way (backs to camera), sit contemplatively on the floor in a house of worship.

The interview begins with discussion of Rev. WonGong’s early life: her childhood in small town South Korea, her relationship with her mother, and her early experiences with Won Buddhism. She then describes life at seminary and her eventual move to the United States (Rockville, Maryland). Later, while recounting her search for a new temple site, she describes the “vibes” during her travels in North and South Carolina. She then recalls moving to Raleigh, working as a social worker for Durham Child Protective Services, and starting small meditation classes in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. This leads to discussion of her impressions of Triangle cities, and the attendees of her meditation classes. She later describes the difficulties of Korean-English translation and explaining Eastern philosophy to a Western audience. Daily and weekly routines are discussed. Finally, Rev. WonGong reflects on change, tradition, and the relationship between the material and the spiritual.

A group of people, all wearing masks, sit contemplatively on the floor in a house of worship.

Rev. WonGong is currently a reverend with Won Buddhism of North Carolina.

 

Listen to Rev. WonGong’s oral history here: