October, 2011: Ven. Bup Mee Kevin Hickey is ordained at Seonam-sa, South Korea.

Bup Mee Sunim (Kevin Hickey) from Muddy Water Zen in Royal Oak, Michigan recently returned from South Korea where he completed 3 weeks of monastic training as a junior monk apprentice at Seonam-sa under the Taego Order. He was ordained at Seonam-sa on Wednesday October 19, 2011 and was also voted by his peers and instructors and awarded the President's Award for most committed and diligent hard-working student. He was inducted formally at Muddy Water Zen and taken on as staff clergy under his teacher Hae Doh Sunim.

June, 2011: World UNESCO heritage "Yongsanjae" Ritual, performed at Ford Theater, Hollywood, CA.

President of Taego order (Most Venerable In-Gong) and 17 other Taego monks performed very beautifully in front of about 800 audience members gathered at wonderful Ford Theater.

The traditional Korean Buddhist ritual manifests the utmost pleasure of Buddha-Dharma and faithful cultivation. The rite demonstrates ancient music and dancing and represents the teachings of the Buddha. Venerable Koo-Hae (Korea's national living treasure 50) and Dr. Ae-Jo-Lee (Korea's national living treasure 27) were highlights of the performance and drew much attention from audiences because their supreme performances.

June, 2011: Rev. Daebi Circelli ordained as a Dharma Teacher, Anaheim, CA.

Dulcinea Circelli has beenordained a Dharma instructor under the Korean Buddhist Taego order. The Head Quarters of the Taego Order bestowed her certificate and ID card. Bishop Jongmae and Reverend Hae Joong Maxwell presented her with Dharma instructor robes and kasa. The Overseas Parish pleased to announce that Reverend Daebi Circelli is now a new sangha member of the Korean Buddhist Taego order and a Dharma teacher at Bo Kwang Buddhist temple Anaheim, CA. Congratulations!

April, 2011: New Taego Temple opens in Washington D.C.

Oxon Hill, MD.: Announcing the merger of the Taegojong Washington Sangha with Bo Hyun Sa Zen Temple in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Commencing immediately the name 'Taegojong Washington Sangha'will be discontinued in favor of refering to our combined Sangha of Korean and American Buddhists as, 'Bo Hyun Sa' Temple. Regular Tuesday night meditation that was meeting at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, will also move to Bo Hyun Sa Temple as well. However, Sangha members who cannot travel across the river to Bo Hyun Sa on Tuesday nights, there will continue to be a bi-weekly meditation meeting in Arlington at the UUCA.

For 20 years, Ah Nan Sunim has operated this little Temple of the Taego Order in Oxon Hill, Maryland, leading a small Korean sangha which will now be joined by Hae In Sunim. Ah Nan Sunim has given long thought to the challenges posed by having two languages and two cultures in one sangha, and has laid forth an ambitious long-range plan to grow Bo Hyun Sa Temple, with accomodations for the needs of each culture. For now, they will start by integrating the Tuesday night meditation meeting into Bo Hyun Sa's facilities. Over time, as Ah Nan Sunim's vision begins to unfold, Bo Hyun Sa will become a truly bi-lingual Temple, pointing the way towards the future of American Buddhism, and a fine example of a culturally integrated Buddhist Sangha.

April, 2011: Precept Ceremony and Ordinations

Royal Oak, MI - Sixteen people took precepts at Muddy Water Zen in Michigan on April 3rd. Bishop Jongmae presided over the ceremony. The precept takers were also joined by Taego clergy from around the country including monks from New Jersey, Washington D.C., Illinois, Toronto as well as locations around Michigan. During the weekend retreat, Bishop Jongmae trained the clergy on verious ceremony and protocol.

Additionally, on Saturday evening, Ven. Deokwun Russell Pitts was ordained as a samanera. Deokwun Sunim will be opening a new Grand Rapids based Taego temple in the summer of this year.