My column is to offer praise and thanksgiving for Buddha's birthday, celebrated on May 25 this year. It’s also to give some reflections on the great world religion and my understanding of Buddhism in Korea.
Existing in Korea roughly since the fourth century, Buddhism continues to have a profound influence on Korean politics, society and culture. I remember enjoying a meal at my friend's home to learn that the consumption of rice at the end of the meal reflects Buddhist culture and the valuation of what is simple. I also remember visiting Daewon Temple near Boseong to enjoy a meal with the head monk, who reminded me of the same message. I also remember a monk passing me by just by chance at Bulguk Temple in Gyeongju and asking me how I felt.
Buddhism is a faith that aspires to release us from the transitory nature of things and to pursue enlightenment on this basis. I have thought of this as trying to understand the nothingness of the world and its cares, with its Hobbesian morass of interests, appetites and objects. A total of 500 million people think along these lines. Striving to imitate the Buddha’s detachment as a way of becoming clear, fully present and alive in each moment is a worthy practice. There are analogues to these dispositions and practices in other faiths.
I have enjoyed visiting Seokguram Grotto and many Buddhist temples during my time in Korea. Wikipedia indicates that there are 1000 official Buddhist temples in Korea, but up to 20,000 Buddhist places of worship of all types. I remember climbing Mount Nam in Gyeongju and seeing Buddhist carvings on various rocks and cliffs. I remember learning about stupas and how they were built to house the remains of the Buddha and other enlightened beings. I know that in times of political persecution and warfare, Buddhists would retreat to the hills. This path in life harmonizes with the hermit tradition in ancient Korea. It also represents a form of valuing those who dissent or disagree, or more broadly, with people pursuing individual goals.
Of 13 Korean presidents, I read that two — Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Moo-hyun — were openly Buddhist. Most were Protestant, Catholic or “other.” The Jogye Buddhist order is politically active, to say the least. I recall various spirited and even violent political interventions involving rival groups of monks and even protests of national railway projects. Certainly the valuation of the environment and the relationship of man and nature are accentuated by the Buddhist religion and temperament. Many temples are built upon and reflect the idea of balance with nature and respect for it in a very fundamental way.
The image of a baby turtle on its mother’s back and the use of small or large rocks placed on top of each other are important images of my experience of Buddhism, as are the many examples of streams and flowing water that run through temples and other Buddhist spaces.
On the other hand, I also have images of Buddhists committing suicide to protest injustice. I think the media at times distorts reality, since one of the first principles of Buddhism is not to take life. I do think there is a distinct approach to valuing life for Buddhists, who generally practice cremation and have the idea of reincarnation. Since we have more than one life, there is no need to cling to the body as a vessel. All things ultimately return to the beginning and continue in existence.
Already, I’ve used most of my column to talk about Buddhism and my impressions of the Buddhist faith, but not so much about Buddha. I’ve learned that Buddha is not one but many entities. Buddha isn’t viewed in the way a Judeo-Christian adherent would view a deity. Buddha definitely portends many ideas and has many faces, but it is not an idea. Buddha is beyond objectification and also beyond being captured in a particular image or definition. The variety of images of the Buddha reflects human striving to understand and curate what is beyond our comprehension. Still, countless stories and memorials depict the epiphanies that occur for those who seek Buddha and find him.
I also think that while Buddhism held dominance under the three ancient states of Silla, Goguryeo and Baekje, it’s a religion that admits of and allows other faiths to co-exist. The Buddha may be the least jealous of gods in the pantheon. This is one secret to Buddha’s appeal and value in a world still caged to partiality.
In a world much less settled and in harmony today than earlier this century or in the last, I thank Buddha for the invitation to a conscious life and for countless living examples of peace, serenity, insight and harmony. We need them now, always and forever more.
Source: Korea Times News
