New Year’s Message for 2022 (B.E. 2566), the Year of the Black Tiger from Most Ven. Wonhaeng, President of the Jogye Order

New Year’s Message

The new year has dawned, andthe year 2022
is witnessing a rare occurrence of the Year of the Black Tiger.
Allow me to wish all Korean citizens, as well as all Korean Buddhists
a happy new year on this auspicious occasion.

Unfortunately, a succession of coronavirus’ variants
are slowing down the return to the life before
the COVID-19pandemic.

There is an old maxim “Mabu wechim(磨斧爲針)”,
which means “Filing down an ax until it becomes a needle.”
Nothing is unachievable, no matter how hard it is, if tackled by
enough diligence and patience.

Likewise, I am confident that
my fellow Koreans, wise as ever, will overcome the current crisis
with profound patience and ferocious will, like a black tiger.

Soon, it will be time to make a choice
that will change the future of our great nation.
Let’s work together to resolve all conflicts and discord
by abandoning our fixation on differences and discriminations
and choose reconciliation
by realizing the wisdom of non-duality,
so that we will have new hope,
and all Koreans will share a better life, and a better future.

The Buddhist community will do its best
in the Year of the Black Tiger
to utilize, preserve and pass on Korea’s proud cultural heritage,
which we share with the people of Korea.

On the first day of B.E 2566

Most Ven. Wonhaeng,
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism