[Haruchunja] "Wishing the Year of the Blue Dragon to Fulfill Your Aspirations"

Editor's NoteJinwoo Sunim, the Chief Abbot of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, promised in his New Year's address for the Year of Gapjin, “We will strive to become a trusted Buddhism, a respected Buddhism, and a Buddhism that works together by responding to societal and public demands in line with the changing times and meeting their expectations.” He diagnosed our society as “a situation where the greater good is mercilessly abandoned for individual small interests and convenience, and where low birthrates and aging populations have become the norm amid economic stagnation, shaking the very foundation of social structure.” He emphasized, “At a time when the mental health of the entire nation is threatened by the complex worldly affairs, we will prepare various religious policies necessary for popularizing Seon (Zen) meditation for the peace of mind of all people.” Word count: 1282 characters.

The sound of the Bosingak bell in the heart of the capital of the Republic of Korea opens the Thirty-Three Heavens, and as a new sun rises in every heavenly realm, it shines new energy upon all the world and all sentient beings, making all things dance joyfully.

Through this, a blue dragon protects the Nareusha land and its people, voluntarily becoming a guardian deity of the Dharma, and enables all those who have set their intentions to ascend the Dragon Gate. In the Year of Gapjin (Gapjin Year), I sincerely pray that it will be a year of the blue dragon, bringing peace to body and mind and fulfillment of all wishes.

However, unlike the joyous heavenly world, the reality we face on the ground is not so easy. The Middle East and Eastern Europe are engulfed in the flames of war, and due to the climate crisis and environmental destruction, all sentient beings living in the sea, on land, and in the air are crying out in pain.

Nevertheless, the greater good is mercilessly abandoned for individual small interests and convenience, and amid economic stagnation, low birthrates and aging populations have become the prevailing trend, shaking the very foundation of social structure. Moreover, conflicts and anxieties accumulate and overlap due to the complex worldly affairs, severely threatening the mental health of the entire nation.

To solve these various problems, the state, local governments, social organizations, religious organizations, and individuals are all required to fulfill their respective roles. Therefore, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism intends to respond flexibly to these issues by thoroughly reorganizing its existing structure and doing its utmost to fulfill the mission entrusted to the order.

In particular, to resolve the anxieties of the future leaders?the youth and young adults?we will vigorously promote mind training practices while continuously seeking Buddhist alternatives. Furthermore, for the peace of mind of the entire nation, we will prepare various religious policies necessary for popularizing Seon (Zen) meditation and widely disseminate it through the World Seon Meditation Conference and the Great Assembly of Korean Buddhists.

To this end, all members of the order will advance step by step together with the monastic and lay community without losing their original intention. We will do our utmost to make the Year of Gapjin a year that listens to the demands of society and the people according to the changes of the times and meets their expectations, becoming a trusted Buddhism, a respected Buddhism, and a Buddhism that works together.

Striking the new drum for the new year, showering the new Dharma rain widely,

All things are renewed, and each one follows the Dharma path.

New Year's Morning of the Year of Gapjin

Jinwoo, Chief Abbot of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism