| Wonhyo and Uisang -- great master-monks of Shilla -- |
| Wonhyo Pilgrimage Trail inaugural trek Dec 2011 2nd Trek September 2012 |
| twin portraits of Korea's most-famous ancient master-monksin their later years: Uisang-josa (left) and his close friend Wonhyo-daesa (right) from Cheonseong-san |
| Above from Songgwang-sa, Below from Anyang-am, Next from Jogye-am photos provided by the excellent Dale's Korean Temple Adventures |
Wonhyo and Uisang are an excellent example of the doban relationship.
doban 도반 道伴 fellow practitioner; dharma-friend
This term indicates Dharma brothers and sisters, the companions of the Way, or a true friend along the path of
enlightenment. It refers to a fellow trainee or monk who practices the Buddhist truth together, those who one
keeps company with in the course of pursuing the truth; they are otherwise called a good friend, Seon-u (善友).
In seeking the Buddha-dharma, the seeker's teacher and dharma friends are of importance, so Buddhists
generally treat their fellows with courtesy, calling them the similar term beop-u (法友) or dharma-friends,
indicating a friend of the truth who shares joys and sorrows together and helps each other's practice on
their way towards enlightenment. Groups that both spread the Dharma and practice social welfare services
are generally called Beop-u-hoe (法友會, Dharma-friends Association). These relationships have been very
important in Buddhism, forming the support-network for monastics who have left their biological families,
since the very beginning of the Buddhist Seungga (僧伽, Sangha, temple community).
doban 도반 道伴 fellow practitioner; dharma-friend
This term indicates Dharma brothers and sisters, the companions of the Way, or a true friend along the path of
enlightenment. It refers to a fellow trainee or monk who practices the Buddhist truth together, those who one
keeps company with in the course of pursuing the truth; they are otherwise called a good friend, Seon-u (善友).
In seeking the Buddha-dharma, the seeker's teacher and dharma friends are of importance, so Buddhists
generally treat their fellows with courtesy, calling them the similar term beop-u (法友) or dharma-friends,
indicating a friend of the truth who shares joys and sorrows together and helps each other's practice on
their way towards enlightenment. Groups that both spread the Dharma and practice social welfare services
are generally called Beop-u-hoe (法友會, Dharma-friends Association). These relationships have been very
important in Buddhism, forming the support-network for monastics who have left their biological families,
since the very beginning of the Buddhist Seungga (僧伽, Sangha, temple community).
| "Master Wonhyo departing from Uisang at Dangjin" |
| from an exterior wall of Worak-san Deokju-sa |
| from Jeseok-sa, temple of Wonhyo's birthplace, in Gyeongsan City |
| Uisang-josa (left) listening to Wonhyo-daesa (right), as enlightened middle-aged doban friends |
| Wonhyo and Uisang in the amusing Toham-san Oeo-sa story |
| Photo by Dale, from Biseul-san Yongyeon-sa temple, in Dalseong-gun |