Ven. Jaseung, President of Jogye Order Holds New Year Press Conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Together, We’ll Build Hope!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Citizens and Buddhists of Korea! Happy New Year to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new year of the serpent has dawned. First, I would like to greet and congratulate the citizens of Korea, whom continue to walk silently towards the path of new hope and happiness in spite of many difficulties and challenges. Moreover, I would like to thank the four-fold assembly for their great effort and practice for realizing the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have pronounced during my inauguration ceremony on 5 November 2009, “Korean Buddhism will aspire to resolve conflicts through cooperation and communication.” I have also stated that a new system will be introduced to implement this aspiration by the end of my four-year term. In order for Korean Buddhism to develop and respond to the needs of the society, more difficult duties and challenges must be realized.  

 

 

 

As a result, various systems were introduced for the first time in history, such as the performance based assignment of temple abbots, rationalization of temple sales and organization of financial structure, monastic welfare programs (to serve elder monastic), and establishment of international Jogye Order temples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new monastic education system has been introduced in response to the changing need of the modern society. The development and application of new Buddhist culture, “Resolution for Introspection and Reform,” preservation of traditional temples through natural disasters prevention, and recitation of Buddhist prayers in Korean language have resulted through the aspirations of the 33^rd Jogye Order Administration and the profound wisdom and strengths of the four-fold assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The year 2013 would be my final year to serve the 33^rd Presidency of Jogye Order Administration. The Jogye Order wishes for Korean Buddhism to honorably uphold the traditions of Mahayana Buddhism and continue to practice and perform the duties amid the citizens of Korea.  

 

 

 

With these sincere aspirations, the following dedication and vow has been pronounced: “Together, We’ll Create Hope.” In order to realize this vow, we will proceed with the following administrative duties and services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share Our Neighbor’s Pain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the world economic crisis of late, Korean citizens are experiencing many difficulties in life. We have the longest working hours and highest suicide rate among the OECD countries. As stated in the Bodhisattva vow, the Jogye Order vows to save all sentient beings from the oceans of suffering; we will seek out and establish what must be implemented.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Templestay programs are planned to facilitate social integration of the unemployed, disabled, youths, and multicultural families.    

 

 

 

Alternative Social Banking System (Micro Credit) will operate in collaboration with the Government of Seoul.

 

 

 

Suicide Prevention Centers and Youth Development Programs will operate in metropolitan area to share the hardship of our neighbors.

 

 

 

Dongsaseop (sharing of joy and sorrow with other beings) Buddhist Services and Psychotherapy Healing Centers will also operate to benefit laborers/workers.

 

 

 

Furthermore, a school in Kenya, Africa will be established in the near future to globalize the following ideology, “Support with Compassion and Generosity.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promotion of Traditional Culture and Value with the Suitable Preservation and Operational System

 

 

 

 

 

 

Korean Buddhist community will gladly preserve Korean traditional culture and renew its appreciative value. Just as the “Lotus Lantern Festival,” was designated as the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage #122, we will promote Korean Traditional Temples (preserving many Korean intangible and tangible heritage) to be designated as the World Heritage.

 

 

 

Translation of Chinese Buddhist scriptures to Korean script will also continue. This year, ‘The Thousand Eyes and Hands Sutra’ in Korean script will be utilized as the basis for standard temple ceremonies. All conventional ceremonies, such as the rites and prayers will be translated and performed in Korean.

 

 

 

Together with the extensive research on traditional temple and its surrounding area, appropriate utilization of the research findings will be investigated. Moreover, Geumseokmun or inscription on paper or stele found throughout the nation will also begin its 16 years research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expectations of the Korean Citizens will be Assure through the Sustained Reform

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jogye Order will not turn our back on the expectations of more innovative reform and fulfillment of social responsibilities. Korean Buddhism will generate hope and promote change by leveling our goal with that of the citizens of Korea. The issues suggested last year in the First Reform Assembly will be executed and re-examined befittingly. This year, the steering committee for temple operations, validation of temple finances (i.e. use of credit cards), issuing of receipts, professional education system for Jogye Order administrative, and other important objectives will be explored and fulfilled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jogye Order’s Committee for Reform currently plans for the Second Scheme, which include new monastic regulations and electoral systems, political operation systems, electoral system for the defense of religion, and monastic welfare system. Once the scheme has been finalized, we will do our utmost best to integrate suggestions made by various Buddhist communities and make appropriate decisions and implementation strategies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plans for the Jogye Order presidential election, improvement of comprehensive monastic operation system, and the management of district main temples as formulated by the committee for reform, will be carefully reviewed by the Jogye Order’s Executive Branch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 33rd Executive Branch Will Offer Services to Restore Buddhism

 

 

 

The monastic welfare system will be strengthened with suitable system models and delivery of personalized services. For Buddhism to contribute to local communities, vitalization of district branch administration and improvement in religious affairs would be necessary.

 

 

 

For more effective Dharma transmission, demarcation of District Branch policies will occur in cooperation of the Central Council. Performance based assignment of abbots, proper expense allocation and adjustments, land sales and other financial responsibility of the temples, establishment of Seon Center in new towns will also be refined. Moreover, tradition of Korean Buddhism with be restored through further education and propagation, thus we will need to pay closer attention to the standardization of monastic education system and help strengthen activities in individual branches.

 

 

 

We will not stop at the release of the 33^rd Executive Branch Final Report. Any deficiencies in the report are to be supplemented and additional suggestions will be incorporated in this final report. In addition to the 2013 Jogye Order operational policies, two additional issues should be discussed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, the issue of taxation for religious group (i.e. for Buddhist monks and nuns) is defined as follows. The social expectations and the atmosphere in which this controversial issue has been presented are fully acknowledged by the Order. The Jogye Order will confer with the Central Council and the abbots of the district main temples and report the official position of the Jogye Order in the near future. However, it should be noted here that Buddhist monastics do not have any formal employment relations with a particular organization or a temple. Moreover, there are no special procedures or systems outlined by the Government of Korea at present. Thus, we will gather our wisdom with the government and find appropriate solution to determine how the traditional methods will work with the modern administration system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondly, the following request has been made continuously to the government of Korea. We sincerely pray that those imprisoned due to Yongsan tragedies and Ssangyong Motors will be able to join their families and friends on this New Year’s Day. We strongly encourage the government to discover harmonious solutions and a better support system for all those involved. In addition, the new government should keep pace with the global trends of social equality and justice, thus find a concrete and implicit measures to resolve the problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear citizens and the four-fold assembly!

 

 

 

A Korean proverb states, “Contentment is one’s biggest asset.”
Thus, we must open our eyes of wisdom and discover and understand for ourselves what must be accomplished in this world. This way, we may find contentment more readily. Through such practice, we will begin to see people of need and see the world with more compassionate eye. These are all precious people we can depend on in this life. In the year of the serpent, we wish that you may practice with great wisdom and compassion in your heart, and discover ultimate joy and happiness.    

 

 

 

Thank you.
 

 

 

 

January 16, 2013 (B.E 2557)

 

 

 

 

 

 

President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

 

 

 

Most Venerable Jaseung