Within Won Buddhism, religious life does not revolve around a pantheon of personal gods or traditional Buddhist deities. The central object of faith is *Il-Won-Sang*, the “One Circle,” a simple circular symbol that represents the Dharmakaya Buddha, ultimate reality, and the formless source of all buddhas and all things. This symbol functions less as an image of a supernatural being and more as a visual gateway into contemplation of the fundamental principle of reality and the Buddha-nature inherent in all phenomena. Devotional attention, meditation, and gratitude are directed toward this One Circle as an expression of reverence for the truth it embodies, rather than as supplication to a personal creator deity.

Alongside this focus on Il-Won-Sang, Won Buddhism honors Śākyamuni Buddha as the original teacher who realized and expounded the truth symbolized by the One Circle. The tradition also venerates Sot’aesan (Park Chung-bin), the founding master, as a great enlightened teacher who rediscovered and systematized this truth for a modern age. These figures are respected and commemorated, yet they are not framed as gods to be worshipped in a theistic sense; the emphasis falls on following their teachings and embodying their realization. Traditional buddhas and bodhisattvas are acknowledged within the doctrinal horizon, but elaborate image-based cults and a complex pantheon are intentionally de-emphasized in favor of a streamlined, principle-centered practice.

In this way, Won Buddhism may be seen as shifting the axis of devotion from external divine personalities to the impersonal yet intimate reality of Dharmakaya, symbolized by the circle. Rather than seeking intervention from supernatural beings, practitioners cultivate awareness of the universal Buddha-nature in daily life and express reverence through ethical conduct and spiritual cultivation. The “worship” that does occur is thus oriented toward ultimate truth and enlightened mind, with historical teachers serving as luminous exemplars of that truth rather than as objects of deification.