English | Monks and Lay Buddhists from Various Countries Enjoys Korean Traditional and Buddhist Culture
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Author Jogye On14-06-26 14:31 Views15,632 Comments0Related links
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Monks and Lay Buddhists from Various Countries
Enjoys Korean Traditional and Buddhist Culture
In celebration of the Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeon Deung Hoe), the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders invited elevenmonks and lay Buddhists from nine countries such as China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Nepal, Australia, and Uzbekistan. The participants visited Korea from May 24-28, 2014.
The foreign monks and Buddhists took part in the Lotus Lantern festival sponsored by the overseas Buddhist delegation and the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders. The participants experienced Korean Buddhism and traditional culture through various programs: a visit to the traditional lantern exhibition held at the Cheonggyecheon stream, worship at Bongeun-sa temple, a visit to the general affairs office of the Jingak Buddhist Order, a visit to Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuriin in Paju, a visit to Seoul Tower, a visit to Gyeongbokgung palace and the Blue House (office of the Korean president), and a sampling of temple food.
In particular, on May 25 the group participated in the traditional lantern exhibition held at Cheonggyecheon stream and prayed that the victims of the capsized ferry Sewol would be reborn in the Pure Land and that those missing from the tragedy would return home safely.
Ven. Juéxǐng (覺醒), president of the Shanghai Buddhist Association and vice-president of the Chinese Buddhist Association, stated “As a Buddhist, I felt grief-stricken after the Sewol ferry disaster, no less than for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight which vanished in March, 2014.” He continued “I prayed that those missing might return home safely, that the victims would be reborn in paradise, and that all Korean people might feel happier and a little more at ease.”