On May 31, 2026, the B.U.D. Zen Center in Flushing, New York, hosted “Moonlight Meditation,” a special evening program for young people, including United Nations staff members and Columbia University students.

The event was an “encore” organized at the request of UN staff members and Columbia University students who had attended the previous Buddha’s Birthday celebration at the center. About 30 young people from diverse cultural backgrounds attended and enjoyed a time of meditation and fellowship in a lively, international atmosphere.

As the sun set and the lotus lanterns lit up one by one, participants gathered in the temple courtyard. The event began with a tasting of Korean temple food, followed by a variety of practices, including walking meditation, tea meditation, standing meditation, and seated meditation, which were met with great enthusiasm.

After the meditation program concluded, everyone sat around a bonfire, sharing sweet potatoes and marshmallows while having a warm, friendly conversation. Participants naturally became closer as they shared their cultures and life stories, deepening their understanding of Korean Buddhist culture by exchanging gifts prepared by the temple.

A Columbia University student who participated in the event shared, “I was captivated by the warm atmosphere I experienced during the Buddha’s Birthday celebration, which is why I returned with friends,” adding, “It was a very meaningful time because, beyond simple meditation, I was able to have sincere conversations and connect with people from diverse backgrounds.”

“I am deeply grateful that the precious connections forged during the Buddha’s Birthday celebration have been renewed through this gathering,” said Ven. Gou, the abbot of the B.U.D. Zen Center. “Seeing people from different cultures and backgrounds share inner peace and strengthen their bonds through meditation is precisely the role Buddhism must play in modern society.”