The Buddha’s Birthday, which fell on May 5 in this year, was commemorated at temples across the country at 10 am, including Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The congratulatory ceremony, held on a special stage in front of Jogyesa Temple's Main Buddha Hall, was attended by more than 10,000 people, including Most Ven. Jinwoo, the president of the Jogye Order; Ven. Jagwang, the chair of the Elders Council; Ven. Jugyeong, the chair of the Central Council, and other Buddhist leaders. Government officials and politicians also gathered to celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha and reflect on his teachings.

All major candidates running in the 21st presidential election on June 3 were present, including Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moonsoo of the People's Power, and Kwon Youngguk of the Justice Party. Embassies from India, Japan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Dominican Republic, China, Zambia, and Sri Lanka were also represented at the event.

“When we live in the world with Buddha's eyesight, lotus flowers bloom with every step we take, and every action we perform becomes the infinite Dharma,” said Supreme Patriarch Jongjeong Seongpa in a Dharma talk read by Ven. Jagwang, the chairman of the Elders Council. “The sound of the birdsong and the wind turns into the best music. Flowing clouds become beautiful paintings. Even a single wildflower transforms into majestic Dharma. A Buddhist who vows to become a bodhisattva who is not deceived by any illusions and never turns away from any sentient being is the kind of true Buddha praised by all other Buddhas and admired by the heavenly guardians and god Indra.” 

“What we all need to reflect on is not our status or conditions, but how much aware we are of attachments and discriminations that arise within us and how we can let go of them,” said Most Ven. Jinwoo in his congratulatory remarks. “When greed overflows, unwholesome karma inevitably follows, collectively. When compassion blossoms, merits are sure to come, to be shared by all.”