Jun 15, 2024 – Closing Ceremony for Overseas Participants’ Training, Jaja Retreat, and Dharma Q&A for Korean Minutemen for Peace and Unification
Hello. Today, we held a closing ceremony after visiting the tomb of King Munmu and the Gameunsa Temple site with overseas participants who came to attend the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly.

Sunim departed from Dubuk Jungto Retreat Center at 3:55 AM and headed to King Munmu’s tomb. He arrived at the tomb at 4:40 AM, before sunrise.


The overseas participants also got off the bus and waited for the sunrise over the East Sea. Sunim first explained about King Munmu’s tomb.

“We have arrived in Gampo-eup, Gyeongju city. You can see a rock in front. From the front, it looks like this, but when viewed from an aerial perspective, the rock is cut in a cross shape. This allows waves to enter the rock from all directions. There’s a pool in the center of the rock with a large stone placed in it. It’s believed that King Munmu’s remains were placed in this water-filled area within the rock and covered with a large stone. So it’s neither entirely artificial nor completely natural. While the rock itself is naturally formed, there are traces of slight modifications to allow water to enter from all directions.


There were three key figures who played crucial roles in Silla’s unification of the Three Kingdoms: King Taejong Muyeol, King Munmu, and General Kim Yu-sin. King Munmu was the son of King Taejong Muyeol. In 660, Baekje fell during King Taejong Muyeol’s reign, and he passed away in 661. After King Munmu ascended to the throne, Goguryeo fell in 668. Then, Silla fought against Tang China for eight years and achieved the unification of the Three Kingdoms in 676. The year when Tang forces were completely driven out of the Korean Peninsula is considered the year of unification. King Munmu led during this period. Therefore, the people of Silla regarded King Munmu as having played the most crucial role in the unification of the Three Kingdoms.

What Does It Matter What I Become If I Can Protect My Country?
“The countries that threatened Silla were Baekje and Goguryeo, both of which had fallen. Silla had also established friendly relations with Tang China, which had been a threat. The only remaining threat was Japan across the sea. That’s why King Munmu, on his deathbed, said, ‘After I die, I will become a dragon and protect against Japanese invasions from the East Sea. So please bury my bones in the East Sea.’ A monk then said, ‘Even if a dragon is powerful, it’s still a beast, one class lower than humans. How can you wish to become a beast? Your Majesty should ascend to the heavenly realm, a class higher.’ However, King Munmu replied, ‘What does it matter what I become if I can protect my country?’ At that time, the most sacred mountain for the Silla people was Nangsan, where Queen Seondeok’s tomb was located. King Munmu was cremated at the foot of Nangsan, his ashes buried in the East Sea, and a pagoda was built at the cremation site. This pagoda is the Neungji Pagoda. Instead of building a tomb, they erected a Buddhist-style pagoda. The contents of the Samguk Yusa, which were once thought to be mere legends, have been largely proven true through archaeological excavations.”
As Sunim finished his explanation, the sun emerged from between the clouds.
“Wow!!!”


Everyone exclaimed in awe. Sunim suggested singing the song “My Country, My People.” They began to sing in unison, gazing at the blazing sun.


Look at the sun rising over the East Sea ♬
Above whose head does it blaze?
Above us who have gained noble purity through years of bloody struggle
Look at the sun rising over the East Sea ♬
Before whom does it shine brightly?
Before our people who have quietly waited in the brilliant culture of our ancestors
Our breath grows louder, our pulse beats stronger ♬
Oh, our people, purely intertwined with this land

As the song echoed over the sound of waves, Sunim gazed intently at the sun rising over the vast sea.


Everyone united in their resolve to spread the aspirations gathered at yesterday’s 6.13 Mass Dharma Assembly throughout the world. They took a commemorative photo together, determined to spread the spirit of hope from their respective positions.
“Overseas branches, international divisions, fighting!”

After taking photos in small groups, they boarded the vehicles again and headed to Gameunsa Temple Site.


Before climbing up to see the three-story stone pagoda, Sunim explained about Gameunsa Temple.


“We have arrived at the Gameunsa Temple Site. Currently, the Daejongcheon Stream flows on the other side, but it seems that during that time, it flowed towards Gameunsa Temple. When they were preparing the land for farming, they dug under the rice fields and found mostly gravel. This suggests that they allowed water from the East Sea to reach the temple. Not only did they create a waterway for the dragon protecting the country to come to the temple, but they also built waterways under the main hall.
After King Munmu unified the Three Kingdoms, the only remaining enemy was Japan. The easiest route for Japan to invade was through Gyeongju. So, they built this temple here to protect against Japan. However, King Munmu passed away before completing the temple, and his son, King Sinmun, ascended to the throne and finished the temple two years later. To express gratitude for King Munmu’s unification of the Three Kingdoms, they named this temple ‘Gameunsa,’ meaning ‘Gratitude-Repaying Temple.’ It was also designed so that King Munmu, who had left his last words to become a dragon in the East Sea to protect against Japanese pirates, could come to this temple along the waterway to listen to the Dharma.

“As you climb the stairs, you’ll see the middle gate with the east and west pagodas forming twin towers on either side. Beyond that is the golden hall, and at the very back is the lecture hall. Let’s take a walk around and then have our closing ceremony.”

After climbing the stairs and walking around Gameunsa Temple Site, the closing ceremony began between the two pagodas. The assembly requested a Dharma talk with three bows, and Sunim delivered the closing Dharma talk.


“I’m truly grateful to all of you who have come from far away, taking flights to participate in the Manin Daebophoe (10,000 People’s Dharma Assembly). In Gyeongsang-do dialect, they express gratitude by saying, ‘Why did you come?’ Yesterday, I greeted you in the Gyeongsang-do style, but today, I’ll greet you in the Seoul style. Thank you for coming.” (Laughter)


“I believe this is the first time in Jungto Society’s history that we’ve held an event with over 100 overseas participants. Since you all live abroad, you must feel how much Korea’s status has risen, right?”
“Yes.”
“However, when you come to Korea and look inside, you’ll see that this prosperity might be difficult to maintain for long. In the past, it was the opposite. From the outside, it looked like Korea was on the brink of war, that the government would collapse due to demonstrations, that the president would be arrested and the country would soon fall. But when you came inside and looked closely, the economy was growing, students were very ambitious, and although they protested during their school years, most of them got jobs and worked hard after graduating. While it looked crumbling from the outside, there was strength rising from within. That’s how we overcame various obstacles. Even during the IMF financial crisis, there was a very high level of voluntary effort from the citizens to overcome the crisis. It seemed like we were in full bloom due to past efforts, but now it might be time to wither as we face much internal confusion. So, South Korea is now at a crossroads – will we be satisfied with this level of growth and gradually decline, or will we continue to grow?”

The Purpose of Holding the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly
The probability of war breaking out is much higher than you might think. In the past, even when North Korea provoked, their power was very weak. However, as Russia and North Korea cooperate militarily, North Korea’s military strength is increasing significantly. While we feel threatened by the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, imagine how threatening the military cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. must be to North Korea. There are many factors for military conflict both within the Korean Peninsula and internationally. With the strengthened military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, if a conflict occurs, it could escalate into a full-scale war, which we must prevent. This is why we held the Mass Dharma Assembly, not to create social unrest by saying war is imminent.
When Sunim went to the U.S. last September and talked about how the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia would become a threatening factor in various ways, people barely listened. However, when he went to the U.S. this May, the atmosphere had changed significantly, with people paying much more attention. Today’s newspaper reported that a U.S. State Department official said something similar to what Sunim had been saying. Of course, they have issues that prevent them from speaking openly. However, there’s still a problem in that they don’t fully grasp the essence of the issue and predict the future accurately. From the U.S. perspective, many people dying in a conflict on the Korean Peninsula isn’t felt as a significant problem like it is for us. They only think strategically about whether a conflict on the Korean Peninsula is advantageous or disadvantageous to their strategy of containing China, not considering how many people might die. Therefore, we must always take the lead in solving our own problems. If we want peace, we must strongly express our will.

To Raise a United Voice for Easing Tensions on the Korean Peninsula
However, the current South Korean government is taking a strong stance on confrontation, and the Korean people are remaining silent about it. Even if the public opposes, the government is likely to push forward with its plans. If the people remain silent, there’s a high probability they’ll become mere pawns in a larger game. That’s why we need to cry out, “We are not pawns on a game board; we are human beings!” We need to make our voices heard that there are 75 million people living on the Korean peninsula – 50 million in the South and 25 million in the North. Only then will our concerns be considered. For this to happen, politicians from both ruling and opposition parties should gather in the National Assembly and voice the need to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. However, no one is doing this right now. That’s why Jungto practitioners have taken the initiative to express these concerns to the world and to prepare for direct action if a crisis occurs. This is the purpose behind organizing the 10,000 People’s Dharma Assembly.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again to those who agreed with this purpose, took the time, bore the expenses, and came all the way to Korea. (Everyone applauds)

First, whether an environmental crisis occurs, a war crisis looms, a war breaks out, or the economy collapses, we must become individuals who can live comfortably in any environment. This is what practice is about. Therefore, when you wake up in the morning, you should pray. Some people say, “How can one live in India? It’s impossible to live there,” but 1.4 billion people are already living in India, so why would it be impossible? Some say they can’t possibly live in Korea, but 50 million people are already living there. Others say they can’t possibly live in North Korea, but 25 million people are already living there. Therefore, wherever and whenever we go, we should become practitioners who can live comfortably in that place.
Second, after developing a certain level of inner strength, we should do things that benefit those around us. This creates a sense of fulfillment in our hearts. Raising children is difficult, but seeing them grow up brings a sense of fulfillment, doesn’t it? True joy comes from fulfillment. When we do something for our country, for world peace, or for those in need, we feel a sense of pride and maturity. When we receive something from others, we feel grateful, but our hearts may shrink a little. That’s why we tend to bow our heads when we’re near someone who helps us. So, try to be someone who gives help rather than receives it. Giving care rather than receiving it is the path to becoming an adult. For women, asserting rights doesn’t necessarily make one an independent being. Excessive dependence on a husband is childlike. It’s because of this dependence that we end up complaining, being dissatisfied, and living with jealousy. Rather than complaining and being dissatisfied, having a grateful heart is the way to become the master of our own lives.

“If you live a life where you take care of your surroundings even a little bit with a sense of ownership, it’s good for both you and the world. First, as you all have experienced, living abroad is not easy. Therefore, it’s necessary to spread the Dharma to overseas Koreans to help them find their center. Second, it’s important to help not only Koreans but also the foreigners around you understand these principles so they can live happily. They should also be encouraged to use their energy to benefit the world. In this sense, we are spreading the Dharma globally not to expand our religious influence, but to benefit others. It’s good to actively promote and spread the Dharma, but we shouldn’t force it on others. We shouldn’t resent those who don’t participate. We’re spreading the Dharma for their benefit, so we should let them make their own decisions. If we dislike or resent them for not doing what we want, we’re just attached to achieving our goals. So, please put your efforts into spreading the Dharma with a lighter heart.”

After concluding the Dharma talk, the two-night, three-day training for overseas participants of the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly ended with the Four Great Vows. A final commemorative photo was taken with the three-story stone pagoda in the background.

As Sunim left Gameunsa Temple site, he shook hands with each participant, expressing his gratitude.
“Thank you for coming from afar.”


After the training, participants returned to their respective places, while Sunim returned to Dubuk Retreat Center.

From 9 AM, Sunim attended the Jaja retreat for Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers at the broadcasting room of Dubuk Retreat Center. ‘Jaja’ is a Buddhist ritual that maintains the purity of the Sangha by asking the community to point out one’s faults.

At each main temple in different regions, Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers gathered and requested Sunim to give an opening Dharma talk for the Jaja retreat with three bows. Sunim first expressed gratitude for successfully completing the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly, then spoke about the purpose of Jaja and the mindset needed for it.

“Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers conduct Jaja twice a year. Jaja is only possible when there is a true relationship between Dharma friends. Especially in modern society, there’s a growing tendency to consider it virtuous to cover up various personal issues under the name of ‘privacy,’ as speaking about them might be seen as interference or criticism. As a result, there’s a lack of mutual guidance towards the right path.
For Jungto Society to Maintain Its Founding Spirit for a Long Time
It would be good if we could examine and improve our own shortcomings or mistakes, but there are limitations to this. Not because of bad intentions, but because our minds always work to protect ourselves. When anyone makes a mistake, their mind automatically generates excuses like ‘I had no choice but to make a mistake’ or defensive thoughts like ‘It’s not my fault.’ That’s why it’s difficult to readily accept when someone else raises an issue about us.

However, as we study the Buddha’s teachings, gradually develop an objective view of ourselves, and understand the principles of how our thought structures work, we can go beyond self-awareness and improvement. We can willingly accept help from our Dharma friends to correct our shortcomings. But it takes a long time to build such relationships. Even among siblings, family members, or even couples, it’s not easy to have honest conversations about each other’s perceived shortcomings. Especially in modern times, the culture of having honest and deep conversations has almost disappeared. Even in Buddhism, the traditional practice of ‘Jaja’ has either completely disappeared or remains only as a formality.
For Jungto Society to maintain its principles of practice and founding spirit for a long time, we need to conduct ‘Jaja’ meaningfully to align our goals and values, even if our individual circumstances differ.
Of course, there are several reasons why it’s difficult to conduct Jaja meaningfully. First, we inherently have a habit of pointing out and criticizing others’ faults. Second, we have a thought system that tries to make excuses and defend ourselves when others point out or criticize us. That’s why no matter how much we study ‘Don’t have a critical view of others’ or ‘Accept what others say as if it’s bitter medicine good for your body,’ it doesn’t work well in reality. The reason is that the human thought system is designed to be self-defensive.

The Reason for Conducting Jaja
To overcome this, we must have a clear perspective that “the goal of my life is enlightenment and nirvana.” When it’s clear that living a life free from suffering is the goal of my life, we can borrow others’ eyes when there are limitations to our own self-reflection and awareness. This is the purpose behind the emergence of Jaja.
“Having spent the past three months of the retreat period with me, in what ways do you see my words and actions deviating from the path towards enlightenment and nirvana? Everyone, please speak up for my sake out of your affection for me.”

This process of requesting feedback from the community, realizing “Ah, I missed that at that time,” and correcting oneself is what we call ‘Jaja’.
Following this, Jaja began in groups. After confessing according to the 40 precepts of Jungto practitioners, each person requested Jaja from their group members.
“If you have any doubts about my words and actions, or if you have anything to say for the sake of my practice, I request Jaja for my benefit.”

While the Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers were conducting Jaja training, Sunim held a Dharma Q&A session with the Korean Minutemen for Peace and Unification (KMPU) of The Peace Foundation from 2 PM. After all the KMPU members joined the video conference room, they watched a video of their activities from the first half of the year together before starting the conversation.

After watching a video of Sunim meeting with U.S. government officials, members of Congress, and think tank representatives in Washington D.C. last month to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, he took questions. There were various questions about changes in inter-Korean relations and the international situation, and the role of KMPU in this context. One person asked about the direction of KMPU activities following the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly.

What Actions Should We Take After the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly?

“Regarding the current government, the questioner expressed a negative view of its actions from the perspective of the people, the nation, and maintaining peace. I believe that having such feelings is a personal freedom. How one perceives a situation is up to each individual. However, when we engage in activities with others rather than alone, we must acknowledge that people have slightly different views. We need to respect others’ positions and opinions to move forward together. Instead of judging right or wrong, we should try to understand and accept that ‘from their perspective, they might think that way.'”
“South Korea has alternated between hardline and moderate policies towards North Korea with each change in government, depending on the administration’s nature. However, after experiencing various South Korean governments, North Korea has begun to judge that, whether conservative or progressive, South Korean governments fundamentally do not recognize North Korea’s system. This shift in thinking among North Korean leaders has become particularly pronounced this year.”
“In the past, North Korea only criticized conservative regimes in the South and was relatively friendly towards progressive ones. Now, regardless of whether it’s conservative or progressive, they believe that South Koreans neither recognize the North Korean government nor qualify as dialogue partners to negotiate unification issues. This is the conclusion North Korea has currently reached. As a result, they have cut off all channels of communication and concluded that South Koreans can no longer be considered part of the same nation. They have removed all slogans mentioning ‘unification’ and ‘nation’ from everywhere.”

In the past, there was always a debate in South Korea about whether North Korea was the main enemy or not. North Korea, however, did not consider South Korea as its main enemy. They always viewed the United States as their primary adversary and South Korea as a puppet of the U.S. But now, North Korea sees South Korea as a separate government with which they are in a life-or-death struggle. They have recognized South Korea as a distinct country but defined it as an enemy. As a result, they have eliminated the view of South Korea as part of the same nation, abandoned any roadmap for unification, and shifted to a stance of being willing to engage in a power struggle. The South Korean government, in turn, has adopted the position that it will respond to power confrontations if necessary and, if provoked, will not back down but must overthrow the opponent. Currently, as both sides have taken the view that they must overthrow the other, conflicts are intensifying.
The conservative government in South Korea believes that the North Korean government is not a normal government and should collapse. At the same time, it is moving towards strengthening military cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to prevent North Korea from making provocations. They think that strong military cooperation among these three countries will deter North Korea from provocative actions.
In the past, North Korea was seen as an enemy but also as part of the same nation that should be unified. Japan, despite ongoing exchanges, was not considered a country to move forward with due to the experience of colonial rule. However, as the international situation has gradually changed, the current government’s assessment is that cooperating closely with Japan is more beneficial for South Korea’s development than improving relations with North Korea. As a result, they have taken a proactive stance towards Japan, suggesting cooperation without dwelling on the past, while adopting a perspective of scrutinizing and punishing every action of North Korea.
However, we should not deny the legitimacy of the current government. It is a government elected through the votes of the people, and the side that receives even one more vote legally has the right to form the government. The current government’s strategy of responding to North Korea’s actions with overwhelming defense capabilities to prevent invasion is one type of defense strategy. While such a defense strategy is necessary, the problem lies in the excessive focus on this approach. Overemphasizing peace through strength can lead to mutual hatred, which risks attacks regardless of the difference in power. Thus, peace through strength always carries the inherent danger of potentially leading to war if mishandled.

It’s not about abandoning the balance of power, but rather advocating for peaceful problem-solving through dialogue and negotiation alongside power-based peace. This was precisely what the 10,000 people at the June 13 Mass Dharma Assembly requested from the government. However, neither the current administration nor the previous one has properly implemented this approach. Although the previous administration made efforts to engage in dialogue with North Korea, they failed to fully implement agreements such as the Mount Kumgang tourism project, the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and North Korean railway construction – all of which were negotiated and signed by leaders from both sides. Therefore, we must maintain a critical eye on any government and voice our opinions to ensure they move in the right direction.
From this perspective, it’s clear that the current administration’s policies or direction are not the sole cause of the heightened tensions in inter-Korean relations. The broader context is the power struggle between the United States and China, while on a smaller scale, it’s due to North Korea’s efforts to protect its own regime. The recent tensions, in particular, are largely a result of North Korea feeling threatened about maintaining its system. There are different approaches to dealing with North Korea: one is to maintain peace by embracing them gently, and another is to maintain peace through a hardline stance, as is currently being done. We should view the South Korean government’s different responses as a reflection of these policy differences.
Personally, I disagree with the current administration’s policies. However, we must acknowledge that this strategy is one approach among others. If they were proposing war, we would have to stop them unconditionally. But the current strong-arm tactics, based on the belief that it will prevent North Korea from provocations, can be seen as a strategy. We simply believe that dialogue and negotiation are better methods than such hardline approaches. In fact, engaging in dialogue with North Korea is more advantageous for managing the status quo. Even from the U.S. perspective, dialogue with North Korea is better for managing the risks they pose. It has already been proven ineffective to demand North Korean denuclearization without dialogue. If we consider North Korea’s nuclear weapons a risk factor, we need to freeze their nuclear program, which requires offering conditions that would persuade North Korea to do so. Economic support alone is no longer sufficient to persuade North Korea. At the very least, a card like normalization of U.S.-North Korea relations would be necessary to achieve even a nuclear freeze through dialogue with North Korea.
However, the U.S. currently insists that nuclear disarmament is necessary and that a nuclear freeze alone is not satisfactory, while North Korea maintains that it cannot give up its nuclear weapons as they are essential for regime survival. With one side saying it’s absolutely unacceptable and the other saying they’ll do it no matter what, if we’re not going to engage in armed conflict, we ultimately need to compromise on North Korea having fewer nuclear weapons. One side demands complete elimination, while the other wants to possess as many as possible. While we can’t completely eliminate the conflict between the two positions, we have no choice but to work towards an agreement where North Korea possesses fewer nuclear weapons. A potential compromise could be to leave the currently developed weapons as they are, but prevent any further development.

If we think, as the questioner suggested, that the current government is the main culprit of all conflicts, then it becomes a government that should cease to exist. Consequently, we would have to maintain an antagonistic relationship with those who support the current government. Instead of seeing the other side as people with different views, we end up seeing them as bad people. In fact, this antagonistic sentiment is the reason why public opinion in South Korea is severely divided now. While it’s the questioner’s freedom to view the current government negatively, it’s also true that about 30 percent of our society believes it’s better to support the current government and respond firmly to North Korea. Especially among older people or those living in the eastern part of the Korean peninsula, there are many who support the current government. Understanding this is crucial if we want to solve this problem peacefully. If we think, ‘Those people are all wrong’ or ‘It’s better if such people don’t exist,’ we’ll end up resolving issues by force rather than peacefully.
As Korean Minutemen for Peace and Unification (KMPU) are people gathered under the premise of resolving any issue peacefully without resorting to force, we cannot choose methods based on force. Instead, we must acknowledge that others may choose such methods. We must even recognize that some people might hold the view of resolving this issue through war.
There isn’t much we can do right now. When war actually breaks out, everyone will come out to oppose it, but currently, people in South Korea don’t fully realize how much tension is escalating and how the danger of war is lurking. Rather, they are more concerned about business not doing well, low wages, and raising children, but hardly think about the possibility of war. If we keep protesting against war on the streets, people are more likely to view us negatively, accusing us of creating social unrest.

Therefore, it’s necessary for the Korean Minutemen for Peace and Unification (KMPU) to study and grasp the essence of this issue, taking time to broaden their perspective. This doesn’t mean remaining outwardly silent; they should take small actions within their reach. While Sunim goes to Washington to appeal to government officials or gather people to speak, individuals can’t do that. However, they can contribute to the peace movement by donating, conducting one-person campaigns, regularly distributing enlightening leaflets to citizens in designated areas on weekends, or spreading videos online that reveal the essence of this issue. Sunim believes that each individual can engage in these activities.
Furthermore, KMPU gatherings can attract many people. We should consider what effective campaigns can be conducted at this scale. If not, we can also collaborate with other civic groups that share the goal of resolving issues peacefully. First, we need to carry out educational programs to expand KMPU. Each region and branch should conduct historical site tours to raise public awareness, and we should research methods for weekly campaigns in specific areas.
This time, we held an event to coincide with Master Yongseong’s birthday. If tensions continue to escalate until the end of the year, we may need to organize a peace march in Gwanghwamun. We should first observe the results of the U.S. election, and accordingly, we could send a delegation to the U.S. to persuade them or work on changing domestic public opinion. We can also persuade politicians to adopt a Korean Peninsula Peace Resolution in the National Assembly and appeal to the international community. Instead of just criticizing the government for inaction, it’s a good approach to show that if the current administration won’t act, at least the parliament will step up.

While there’s a commotion in the country about unilaterally pushing to secure key standing committee chairs in the National Assembly, I believe that if we’re going to pursue something unilaterally, it would be more urgent and effective to unilaterally push for a peace declaration on the Korean Peninsula. Our task is to persuade people to do this.
Although there’s not much that individuals can do in the current situation, it’s still a good action to spread positive messages about peace online. Sharing information about how many people have lost their lives due to the war in Ukraine, or how many have been massacred in Gaza, is something we should do to inform citizens about the crucial importance of maintaining peace.
Internally, our job is to persuade the Korean government, and to do that, we need active campaigns. The reason I visit the United States and meet many people is because I’m considering the possibility of changing U.S. policy towards North Korea to prevent war. We’re making a declaration of ten thousand people because nowadays, people don’t pay attention to a single statement. We’re using the format of a large gathering to convey our message to more people. It’s much more effective to continuously broadcast through various media that we’ve made this resolution together, rather than issuing a statement alone. Our ongoing task is to inform people about the importance of peace through various channels and encourage them to take action for peace.”
“Thank you. I understand well.”

Questions continued to come in. After two hours of conversation, we took a commemorative photo together and ended the live broadcast.

After a short break, from 4:20 PM, Sunim had a Dharma Q&A session with the Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers who were participating in the Jaja retreat. Through confession and Jaja, they were able to ask questions about the precepts and correct their perspectives.

When there were no more questions, Sunim gave a closing Dharma talk for the Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers.
“Today, because all of you have participated in the Posadha and mutual Jaja, the Sangha has attained purity. Each of you has also attained purity. With this, we conclude the Jaja Dharma assembly.”

Sunim then spoke about the tasks that the Gyeolsa Practitioners and Dharma teachers should research and contemplate together in the future.

“Going forward, it would be good for the Dharma teachers to deeply research how to conduct Jaja Dharma assemblies. These days, most education, meetings, and retreats are taking place online. Online, we can see if someone suddenly lies down, but we can’t know if they’re actually breaking various precepts in their daily lives. When living together 24 hours a day, we can understand each other and point out problems, but this is difficult online. If Jaja becomes superficial, firstly, there may be no learning, and secondly, it’s easy to hurt each other by pointing out faults with a critical mind. If we cover up problems, we don’t learn anything, and if we discuss them, we may get hurt. This makes it difficult to deeply reflect on oneself or form genuine relationships as Dharma friends.
With the introduction of online technology, our way of life has changed significantly. Just as the Indian alms culture was inherited as Barugongyang in China, we need to research what content, methods, and time are needed online to preserve the original meaning of Jaja. We need to study how to conduct online meetings, what posture to maintain, how to perform online Posadha, and find the right path that preserves past traditions while also aligning with modern lifestyles.”

After reciting the Four Great Vows, the Jaja retreat concluded at 5 PM.

As the sun set, Sunim attended to various tasks indoors in the evening before concluding the day’s activities.

Tomorrow, after moving to Seoul early in the morning, Sunim is scheduled to have a Dharma Q&A session in the afternoon with about 100 multicultural family members from Sri Lanka at the Jungto Social and Cultural Center.