Stole 30,000 Won from Tongdosa Temple Donation Box During Difficult Times
Left a Letter and 2 Million Won in Cash in the Donation Box
Recently, an envelope containing 2 million won in 50,000 won bills along with a letter was found in the donation box at Jajangam Hermitage of Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, according to Yonhap News on the 9th. According to the report, the author of the letter, who did not leave their name, confessed to having stolen 30,000 won from the Jajangam donation box 27 years ago. In the letter, he wrote, "A baby is expected to be born soon, and I want to be a proud and wonderful father to my child," and enclosed 2 million won, saying, "Thank you and I am sorry."
Recently, an envelope containing 2 million won in 50,000 won bills along with a letter was found in the donation box at Jajangam Hermitage of Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, attracting attention. The author of the letter, who did not leave a name, confessed to having stolen 30,000 won from the Jajangam donation box 27 years ago. [Photo by Tongdosa Temple]
Twenty-seven years ago was 1997, a time when the entire Korean society was suffering greatly due to the IMF bailout. The letter's author continued, "A few days later, I went to steal money again, but a monk grabbed my shoulder, silently closed his eyes, and shook his head from side to side," and said, "Nothing happened that day, and I went home." The monk who grabbed the letter writer's shoulder at that time was Monk Hyeonmun, who served as the head priest of Tongdosa Temple and still lives at Jajangam.
On the 8th, Monk Hyeonmun told the Chosun Ilbo in a phone interview, "I don't remember the boy's face, but I clearly remember that day," and said that on the day in question, he sensed something suspicious at the hermitage. The young boy, who seemed too young to be alone at the hermitage in the evening, looked like a student. When the monk grabbed the boy's shoulder and silently shook his head, the boy showed a surprised expression. Then the monk patted the boy's shoulder and saw him off outside the door, and the boy quietly left. The monk said, "At that time, I had experienced several similar theft incidents, and knowing how hard people were suffering due to the IMF, I just forgot about it after sending the boy away."
However, that day seemed to have a great impact on the boy's life. Although there was no conversation between the monk and the boy, the silent gesture of closing his eyes and shaking his head left a profound teaching engraved in the boy's heart and changed his life, as written in the letter. The letter's author wrote, "Since that day, I have never coveted others' belongings. I work hard and live well. Looking back now, I think the monk cast a spell that made me good. I am sorry I couldn't come earlier." He continued, "I would appreciate it if you think of it as if I just borrowed it for a while. A baby seems to be born soon, and I want to be a proud and wonderful father to my child. Thank you so much, monk, for that day," and ended with, "I am sorry once again."
Monk Hyeonmun was reportedly deeply moved upon receiving the handwritten letter and cash from the letter's author, according to those living with him at Tongdosa Temple. A representative of the Tongdosa Yeongchuk Cultural Foundation, who heard the story with the monk, said, "The monk does not remember the boy's face well, but many people wandered around the donation box during the difficult IMF period, and that boy was one of them. The memory of grabbing the boy's shoulder and silently sending him away is vivid," and added, "It is a truly touching letter that returned as a beautiful connection."
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