Ven. Jinwoo, Head of the Jogye Order, South Korea

The donation will fund various initiatives within Yale's Buddhist Studies program, including bringing guest speakers to campus and sponsoring workshops, conferences, and other academic events. The Jogye Order’s leaders were motivated to make the contribution through their close relationship with Hwansoo Kim, professor of Korean Buddhism and culture at Yale. Kim, a former monk in the Jogye Order, has maintained lifelong connections with his fellow monks and has been instrumental in expanding the university’s Buddhist Studies Initiative.

“All my fellow monks and nuns know who I am and trust me to make good use of this,” said Kim, reflecting on the trust placed in him by the Jogye Order to oversee the academic and cultural efforts at Yale.

Kim, who became a monk at age 15, has long been a proponent of strengthening Korean Buddhism's presence in the academic world. During his tenure as chair of the Council on East Asian Studies, he actively worked to broaden the scope of Buddhist Studies at Yale. The donation, he explained, is a reflection of the Jogye Order’s desire to internationalize its mission and promote a deeper understanding of Korean Buddhist traditions beyond national borders.

The donation ceremony took place at Yale’s president's office, with a group of about 50 visitors from Korea, including the Venerable Jinwoo, head monk of the Jogye Order, and Jae-woong Yun, president of Dongguk University, in attendance. Their visit to Yale was part of a larger trip to the United States, initially focused on events in New York City. However, after learning about the university’s expanding Buddhist Studies program, the Jogye Order decided to make a day trip to New Haven and present the donation.

The event was followed by a dinner with Yale professors, hosted by Steven Wilkinson, director of the Macmillan Center. Jinwoo also gave a talk on his meditation practice as a Buddhist monk, during which he emphasized the significance of the Jogye Order's donation to Yale and its broader mission to spread the teachings of Seon (Zen) Buddhism to a global audience.

“Yale is one of the most prestigious universities in America, and Korean Buddhism, through Seon meditation, is working to spread the teachings of peace and happiness for everyone in the world,” Jinwoo said through a translator, Yeonwoo Joh, a student at Yale Divinity School.

Jinwoo also shared insights into his personal philosophy of peace, encouraging students to integrate Seon meditation into their daily routines. "In my approach to life, instead of living with both happiness and unhappiness, I chose to be free from both and be at peace. I am at peace anytime and anywhere,” he explained. The monk then led the audience in a brief meditation session, followed by a lively Q&A.

The following day, Jinwoo traveled to the United Nations to propose the adoption of "World Meditation Day," further advancing his vision of spreading peace and mindfulness across the globe.

Eric Greene, associate professor of religious studies and coordinator of the Buddhist Studies Initiative at Yale, expressed his excitement about the Jogye Order’s unprecedented support. Greene noted that historically, Asian religious and philosophical traditions, including Korean Buddhism, have received less academic attention in the United States compared to other forms of Buddhism.

“Although Buddhist Studies is only one part of this, my hope is that by growing Buddhist Studies at Yale we can help contribute to making these fields of study more prominent at both the scholarly level and the level of undergraduate teaching, and in this way make something a bit closer to the 'global humanities' at Yale nearer to a reality,” Greene wrote.

Yale’s engagement with Buddhism dates back to the 19th century, but the $1 million gift from the Jogye Order promises to significantly expand the university's capacity to explore and teach about Korean Buddhism, adding new dimensions to the study of Asian religions in the West.