If we deeply examine the various pains that our society is currently facing, we cannot help but think that they may all stem from a lack of a spirit of repentance that is prevalent in our society. Isn't that true for us as well? When we look at the teachings of the Buddha, we first offer our respect and then engage in repentance, right? We don't just go to the Buddha and immediately make our wishes known. We don't approach the Buddha and ask for something without first expressing our intentions. The first step is to commit to following the Buddha and his teachings, which begins with repentance. This is why our order emphasizes repentance; without proper repentance, true vows cannot be realized. Therefore, we have no choice but to stress the importance of repentance. A vow without repentance is meaningless.

Desires without repentance and dissatisfaction can ultimately lead to greater problems. The key to solving these issues lies in this very repentance, as you have realized, Master. In that sense, you have a great vow, and thus you must engage deeply. If the vow is significant, then the repentance cannot be done half-heartedly, as if just skimming over the surface. I believe that if we approach it this way, the vow will not be fulfilled. Therefore, our repentance and vow must go on two tracks, and we all know that we must set our aspirations in a blessed direction together.

We recognize the various problems facing our society through participation, and through our repentant aspirations, we identify the root causes of these issues. With wisdom, determination, and a mindset of harmony, we strive to address them one by one. This aspiration to resolve issues is bound to become the core of civic engagement. Thus, Master, especially in difficult times, we must not falter.

You said to think of it as a teaching of the Dharma. This is indeed a teaching of the Dharma, akin to gold and jewels. What we are experiencing, this trial, has transformed into a manifestation of the Dharma rather than something of this earth. It is the endless teachings of the Buddha urging my repentance. We need to look at it positively. Not only should we view it positively, but our blessed reactions and responses to it are also crucial. In this situation, the kind of response we show will inevitably become the driving force of our actions. Therefore, while it is a trial, it is also a teaching. Did you not also say that through diligent practice, one can achieve their desires? This is a very important principle regarding the fulfillment of our vows. When we practice diligently, even amidst difficulties and challenges, if we break through with that diligence, then we will possess...

Various circles of achievement are the principles of the Dangmun, aren't they? By taking these principles as a standard for solving various problems in this era, we can gather the strength of the nation, the people, and the community into one. Through this, what is our strength? It is to overcome our challenges, and I believe this is a very important model for our progress. These thoughts and aspirations are why last week, all the masters of the Jeonggak Order in South Korea gathered for a ceremony to focus on our goals. Together, we made resolutions and listened to the teachings of our founder and the teachings of the great masters, discussing how we will address the various issues we face and what methodologies we will use to flourish.

It was a short but impactful gathering. One of the significant meanings of this event at the Gilsang Hanwon was, as mentioned in today's title, the Jeonggak Uibeom. You can see the Jeonggak Uibeom here. Yes, it has the same cover and format as the Jeonggak correction. This Jeonggak Uibeom was presented during the gathering of monks from across the country, in front of the Dharma realm and the monks. Nowadays, we often hear discussions about the need to establish a system, don't we? People talk a lot about needing to create a system. What is a system? In Buddhist terms, we have an expression for it. What is it? It is che. We are saying we should establish the che. The Dharma is che, and the rules of the world are the shadow of che. The system is nothing other than che. It is about establishing the che.

I believe that establishing the system is essential. So, what is the foundation? It serves as a basis, a standard, and a driving force. In that sense, our problems and current difficulties arise because the foundation is shaking; the essence is unstable, which leads to these issues. When we say that the social system is shaking or that our foundation is unstable, I think these are different expressions of the same situation. In this context, our vows and aspirations must focus on stabilizing the foundation. What is the best way to stabilize the foundation? You all know the answer. It is to establish our vows and to build the determination that aligns with those vows, addressing the difficulties of our daily lives. This is what forms our foundation. There are two very important pillars in our Jin-gak tradition that play a crucial role in stabilizing this foundation.

The two pillars refer to the teachings represented by the words of the Lord and the Buddha, which we currently possess in the form of Jin-gak's teachings and practices. This constitutes the first pillar. The second pillar pertains to our behavioral patterns; based on these teachings, how we practice, how we act, and what we do in our daily lives. In short, this defines our behavioral patterns in everyday life. This will be the second pillar. The teachings that regulate the way we act in our lives are encapsulated in Jin-gak's principles, which I believe hold significant meaning.

Jin-gak's teachings have not been absent; they have existed. As we commemorate our hundred years of Jin-gak and move forward, we must consider how, starting from our senior teachers, we can systematically and appropriately practice these teachings in accordance with the times, together with the believers.

I believe that the efforts made in this direction, as a result of continuous research by the staff, have now blossomed into significant achievements. In this sense, the recent event symbolizes the embodiment of the teachings of the True Dharma and represents the practical application of our principles. It serves as a confirmation of our commitment to both theory and practice, and I think it has been a blessed opportunity to deepen our understanding.

In this context, I see the True Dharma teachings and the practical application of our principles as essential benchmarks for us. These benchmarks are crucial for us to reflect upon, especially during times of confusion or distress, as they guide us on how we should live our lives. I recall a singer named Kim Jong-seo, who used to have long hair and would spin around dramatically while singing.

I know that you are still active now, and there is a song by the singer Jeong Seo called Beautiful Constraint. Can constraint be beautiful? I believe it can be. I think the teachings of the Buddha and the teachings of the saints are truly beautiful constraints. The Buddha and the saints show us how we should live and what we should practice. However, we often mistakenly perceive this as interference, thinking of it as a constraint that binds our lives. But if we examine the principles and the truths behind it, we can see that these constraints are not really constraints; they are actually beautiful and are a very important part of making us free and achieving liberation. Therefore, the intentions behind the teachings and the words of the true teachings are not meant to hold us back.

I believe that we are being given wings. What are wings? They are what allow us to grow in a higher dimension, to mature in a greater perspective. Isn't that what wings are? In that context, I think the message we need to engrave deeply in our hearts through this strong gathering is crucial. As one of the teachers, it feels like we have received a new textbook that we must study together with our fellow students. Do you remember when you were in elementary school? At the beginning of a new semester, what would the school give you? They would hand out textbooks, right? You would receive several books, maybe 10 or 15, and when you put them in your bag, how did you feel? You probably didn't like it, did you? I actually loved it. Didn't you feel like, Oh, I will be learning from this for a whole year? So, when you went home...

I have a faint memory of my parents wrapping things beautifully in pretty wrapping paper. This time, I have accepted the teachings of Jin-gak and have come down with a sense of preciousness. Oh, I haven't read all of the Jin-gak teachings yet, but I realize that they have provided me with a new textbook, and I think I need to study hard with it, for which I am very grateful and filled with joy. I believe this will give us even greater wings. With this thought in mind, I feel that through our prayers and vows, the teachings of the Buddha and the words of the Dharma should spread wider, deeper, and in a more mature direction. Therefore, I think we should all celebrate and uphold the essence of Jin-gak together. Through the teachings of Seong-il, who has returned from a blessed pilgrimage, we can walk the blessed path together in the same direction.

I think it's necessary to have a determination to keep moving forward. This is not a shared textbook from the Bodhisattva. Yes, each of you should have one copy. If you're curious, you should let me know so that I can show it to you. So, I conveyed the message of receiving the blessed textbook and expressed my hopes that the new students would study with excitement in their hearts as they start the new school year. I also mentioned this briefly. 

Additionally, I want to clarify why I didn't perform the ceremony earlier. In the case of the Jin-gak, there is a specific order for the rituals. The order is established, and it wasn't anything special. In fact, we divided it into two parts because of COVID-19. When I took office four years ago, I noticed that Pohang had stricter health regulations than during the New Year celebrations. So, we had health officials coming in every day.

While I was examining things with my double eyelids, I was appointed at the end of December. Right after that, we had a new prayer service, but the health center said we could only have 30 people sitting. Isn't that ridiculous? After much contemplation, I thought we should split our prayer services. By doing so, our devotees could participate in a distributed manner. 

So, during the first prayer service, we held six sessions, if you remember. We continued that, and the prayer services for self-reflection were also divided into two parts. We completely separated the two parts, and during the second prayer service, we did things like making strong commitments and affirming the five great vows, just like we did at the beginning of the first part. This continued for about four years. Now that COVID has ended, we have truly established our community.

Since it has happened, I think it is only natural to accept the current situation. Also, going back to the way things were isn't strange; it's just returning to how we used to do things, right? I mean, wasn't it originally like that during weekdays? You can think of it as returning to the weekday practices. So today, the self-reflection period ends, and we will move on to the ceremonies and offerings, and then we will begin the second ceremony. There won't be any significant changes. Nonetheless, I wanted to inform you that there has been a slight adjustment in terms of setting that standard with our hearts and bodies. I would appreciate it if you could all keep a blessed mindset. Thank you.

대한불교진각종 보정심인당 일요 자성일(10/27) 1부 불사

대한불교진각종 보정심인당 일요 자성일(10/27) 1부 불사