Lighting Ceremony of Christmas Tree at the Jogyesa Temple

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism lit up the Christmas tree in front of Jogyesa Temple to pray for the reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among various religions in Korea in celebration of Christmas on December 13, 2016.

At the lighting ceremony, many attended including Ven. Jaseung, President of the Jogye Order, Ven. Jihyun, head monk of Jogyesa Temple, Ven. Jungmoon, director of Social Affairs Department, Priest Youngjoo Kim, co-Chairman of KCRP (Korea Conference of Religions for Peace), Archbishop Heejung Kim, Chairman of Catholic Bishops’Conference of Korea, Eunsook Han, President of Won Buddhism, and Yongki Won, head of Religious Affairs Department, etc. In this year, the 416 bereaved families and foreign immigrant women were also invited.

Ven. Jaseung spoke the congratulatory message and the Jogyesa Kids’ Choir sang “Jingle Bell” and “The Christmas Song” to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. This ceremony at the Jogyesa Temple has begun from the year 2010 and this was 7^th event.
 

Celebrating Message for Jesus

We Buddhists celebrate the birth of Jesus
who came to us as the light of wisdom.
He said, those who love the neighbors stay in the middle of light.
Let’s depend on each other’s warmness while lighting oneself.
The laughter in our everyday life and vibrant economy
are the bright future that we dream of and act for.
It is wise to cultivate our compassionate hearts. 
 By making our community warmer and more compassionate,
we build a society of peace and abundance for every one of us. 
When we shine together with our neighbors,
we are the owners of the world no matter where we are.
Keeping the teaching of Jesus in mind,
we should practice loving-kindness and
by remembering that we are all interdependent, 
let's try our best to make our community
more mature and healthy for everyone.

December 13, 2016

Ven. Jaseung, President of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism