Another 1080 Bows for Welfare of the People

Jogye Order Administration’s monastics and employees as well as other Buddhists offered another 1080 Bows at Nakdan Dam of the Nakdong River for the preservation of Korean culture and the welfare of the people on February 18. Over 300 began bowing around noon and finished around 4 p.m. with the Four Great Vows. This is the second time 1080 bows have been offered for the welfare of the people. The first time was on January 10 at Cheongyecheon Stream in Seoul.

The participants resolved to do their best to contribute to the preservation of the Korean culture, as well as self-introspection and reform. The Director of the Committee for the Preservation of Korean Culture, Ven. Jangjeok said, “In order to preserve Korean culture and reform, we Buddhists must change ourselves. It is an aspiration to go forth on the path of the Mahayana with society and the Korean people. The participants here resolve to walk together with the Korean people and uphold Korean Buddhism correctly with the wish to do better.”

This practice meeting was held to repent of the lack of participation by Korean Buddhism in society in the past and for the restoration of democracy for the happiness and safety of the Korean people. In addition, this meeting was held for the preservation of Korean culture and to pray for interreligious harmony. The participants resolve to personally preserve and uphold the Korean culture.

As the participants offered bows to the stone Buddha, it was a time of self-reflection on how they could not stop the environmental damage done by the Four Rivers Project of the government. It was a time to resolve that they will do their best to preserve Korean culture.

These practices are a part of the 100 days of practice for the welfare of the people and preservation of Korean culture. There will be another 1080 bows at the end of the 100 days, which will be March 23.

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The Tripitaka Koreana was a “fake.”

Scholar Oh Yun-hee made waves when he claimed in his recently published book that the Tripitaka Koreana was a “fake.”

But the former director of the Tripitaka Koreana Research Institute says he has good reason for making such a controversial remark.

Oh has been researching the Korean version of the Buddhist scriptures for the past 20 years and believes that Korean pride in housing the oldest extant version of the text prevents people from seeing its value.

Known as “Palman Daejanggyeong,” the Tripitaka Koreana was carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and was modeled after the original Chinese version of the text that was created during the Song Dynasty in 983. It is the only complete edition of the Buddhist canon extant on the Asian mainland.

An improved edition of the Tripitaka Koreana was crafted in 1094, but both Korean versions were destroyed during a Mongolian invasion in 1232.

The current version of the text that is housed at Haein Temple in South Gyeongsang is actually the second edition from Korea and the third edition in the world if the edition from China is counted.

Many Koreans, however, incorrectly believe that the text originated in Korea.

In his recently published book, “Tripitaka Koreana: A Vessel Embracing the Wisdom of a Thousand Years,” Oh attempts to correct this perception while also providing new insight into the ancient text.

Read more here.

Tibetan Buddhist monk visits Korea for first time before three-year retreat

Dubbed the “world’s happiest man,” best-selling author and master Buddhist teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche was in Korea for the first time last weekend, offering his take on how to be happy.

The Tibetan monk participated in a groundbreaking study of brain activity in 2002, where scientists found that advanced meditation increases mental happiness.

What is happiness to him?

“My idea of happiness is an experience of calm, peace and joy which is non-dependent on outside circumstances,” Rinpoche told The Korea Herald over a vegetarian lunch in Insa-dong, Seoul.

For 35-year-old Rinpoche ― who is to go on a three-year retreat in May ― solitary reflection develops inner happiness, unaffected by the stresses, temptations and complications of modern life.

Read the rest here.