Venerable Jinwoo’s New Year Message for the Year of the Black Rabbit: “Let Us Walk the Path Toward Compassion and Coexistence”

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[Asia Economy, reporter Seo Mideum] Venerable Jinwoo, Chief Executive Director of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, delivered a New Year's message for the Year of the Black Rabbit (Gyemyo Year), urging, "Let us walk the path toward compassion and coexistence."

Venerable Jinwoo said, "Today, we hear cracks and ruptures everywhere. It is time to stop enjoying fleeting, mysterious feats atop the cutting board and instead pool our skills to melt swords and spears into hoes and plowshares," expressing his thoughts as above.

He continued, "In the Gyemyo Year, we must do our utmost to beat the drum of harmony and coexistence, so that the rain of Dharma renews all things and each one finds its rightful place in accordance with the natural order."

The full text of the New Year's message is as follows:

A New Year of Communication with Sincerity and Public Spirit

The round sun of the New Year rises high, brightly illuminating all things, making mountains and seas dance, and bringing together rural and urban people to sing joyfully. On the morning of the first day of the lunar year, a thousand blessings open, and all things are renewed.

However, today, people around the globe hear cracks and ruptures in their relationships. Between the north and west, the sounds of war echo, while in the east and south, palpable tension overflows. Looking back, we must remember that even the Great Wall, stretching far and wide, now lies beneath the feet of tourists, and the horses and elephants that once galloped across battlefields are now confined within zoo walls. It is time to stop enjoying fleeting, mysterious feats atop the cutting board and instead pool our skills to melt swords and spears into hoes and plowshares.

This morning of the Gyemyo Year reminds us to share the principle that the world is one family and humanity is one body-heaven and earth share the same root, and all things are interconnected. Every step toward compassion and coexistence is a true light for all humanity. The spirit of non-duality between self and others, which cares for the poor and marginalized, forms the foundation for willingly sharing the burdens of hardship in difficult times. It is also a time to gather the wisdom of Manjushri to address the pressing issues of our era, such as low birth rates, an aging population, and the climate crisis. As we seek a path of coexistence with infectious diseases, we must always unite in daily life, like the two rabbits pounding rice cakes together.

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism will sincerely communicate with the world and engage with the fourfold community with public spirit. Whenever individuals are troubled by their 84,000 afflictions, we will not hesitate to serve as a guide for the times, so that anyone can regain peace of mind through Zen meditation and find their own path. To open a new millennium, we also plan to launch a national campaign to restore the Rock-carved Standing Buddha in Yeolam Valley, Namsan, Gyeongju to its original place.

Time flows from yesterday to today, and from today to tomorrow. However, time does not flow only from the present to the future; the present is connected to the past, and the past is always linked to the future. Thus, the sages of old said, "If today does not surpass yesterday, then tomorrow will not surpass today." Therefore, if the New Year does not surpass the previous year, the next year will not surpass this one.

In the Gyemyo Year, let us beat the drum of harmony and coexistence, so that the rain of Dharma renews all things and each one finds its rightful place in accordance with the natural order.

With utmost sincerity, I pray that the Buddha's blessings fill every household.

On the morning of the New Year, Gyemyo Year

Jinwoo, Chief Executive Director of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.