\u25b3<\/strong> Will the lectures be held online?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lectures will be live-streamed, starting in late March this year. The content will be structured to be relevant to everybody in the world. And when the lectures are translated into English, they will be used for the second 10,000-Day Practice, during which we aim to spread the Dharma to people around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b3<\/strong> The world is chaotic because of the rapid changes taking place, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, metaverse, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and so on. What is the significance of practice in this day and age?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world has always been changing rapidly. The confusion people felt when Western culture was first introduced to Korea in the late Joseon period, or when Korea went through rapid industrialization, was probably greater than the confusion we feel today. People say that the world is chaotic, but actually it is not. You feel like that because you can no longer understand the world with your framework of perception. The key here is the framework of perception. When the world changes, your framework of perception should change as well.  The great teachings of the Buddha allow us to change our framework of perception to be appropriate for the present era. If you understand the Dharma correctly, you can let go of your fixed notions. You can understand the changing world as it is. Therefore, you will be able to cope with the future of society quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b3<\/strong> Many important national events are scheduled for this year. People worry a lot about the upcoming presidential election, for example.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we look back on history, people have always felt that there would be big problems whenever there was a national election. For example, when the conservative party takes power, people fear that democratic achievements will be lost. And when the progressive party takes power, people fear that they will hand South Korea over to North Korea. But such things won\u2019t happen. The breadth of change is increasingly narrowing. Even if the ruling party wants to expand social welfare, they may not be able to do so because of budget constraints. And even if the ruling party wants to do away with social welfare completely, they won\u2019t be able to do so because the social structure won\u2019t allow it. So we don\u2019t need to worry too much. We want candidates to be perfect, that\u2019s why we feel that they are inadequate. Of course, we need to make a choice. Your choice should depend on your values. If you think being free from the threat of war is the most important, you should examine the candidates\u2019 peace policies. If you think measures to counter the climate crisis are the most important, you should examine their environmental policies, such as policies on carbon neutrality. Each person\u2019s priorities are different. We can\u2019t say a certain thing is important across-the-board. We need to make an overall decision in consideration of our values. We need to think comprehensively about how our country can maintain peace and improve welfare in these times of social disharmony. Therefore, Buddhists\u2014as wise people\u2014should make a choice with equanimity rather than based on emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25b3 Can you offer a word of advice for Buddhists in time for the Lunar New Year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, be grateful to be alive. This is  a world worth living in, even though things don\u2019t always work out the way we want them to. Your husband, your parents, and your children may not meet your expectations, but they are good people. I hope you can keep this perspective. See the world in a positive way, but with a critical viewpoint. Only then can there be improvements. Think positively of your life and of Korean society as a whole, but think critically so that you can see the contradictions instead of becoming complacent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n