THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP BUDDHIST YOUTH ROLL OUT “2023 KOREAN BUDDHIST CULTURAL TOUR”
By Dresiani Mareti | Theravada Buddhist Youth of Indonesia
From August 30 to September 2 foreign youth delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Mongolia participated in the 2023 Korean Buddhist Cultural Tour (KBCT) in Gyeongju, South Korea. Youth from these many countries displayed their incredible talents and called for strengthening the bond of friendship in one Dharmahood on the opening ceremony night. On the second day the participants visited Bulguksa Temple, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which is also the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The temple is considered a masterpiece of Far Eastern Buddhist art due to its portrayals of gods, bodhisattvas and disciples, all realistically and delicately sculpted in high and low relief. The wooden buildings of Bulguksa Temple (built in the mid-8th century) and the Seokguram Grotto form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance. Every corner of the complex is full of historical stories, such as Jahamun Gate, the main entrance to the courtyard of Daeungjeon Hall, where Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha) is venerated.The name means “Gate of The Violet Sunset” referring to the halo of wisdom emanating from the Buddha’s body. Cheongungyo and Baegungyo Bridges are also part of Bulguksa Temple complex. These famous staircases consist of a lower eighteen steps and an upper sixteen steps that are separated by an intermediate landing.
The KBCT program also allowed the youth delegations to visit Gyeongju World Amusement Park, while the Executive Board members of the World Federation of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) gathered for a meeting. As the meeting required a more semi-formal environment, thus they were separated. The WFBY semi-formal dialogue was expected to find solutions for some contentious issues. The program also aimed to promote people-to-people exchanges, with the view that if young people are happy they should be able to channel their spirit into motivation.
On another day of the program, the participants were invited to Uiduk University to watch a Taekwondo exhibition and library visit. As part of this experience of Korean traditional martial art techniques the young participants were able to hit targets with their full strength without injuring the training partners. Afterwards, they attended tea ceremony and dessert making workshops at Ansimjeongsa Temple in Daegu, the base temple of the Taego order of Korean Buddhism.
On the last day, the participants experienced a temple stay at Eunhaesa Temple (in Gyeongsangbuk-do province), the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The name means “Silver Sea Temple” in English. Jogye Order represents traditional Korean Buddhism with roots that go all the way back 1,200 years, making it the oldest surviving Buddhist lineage in Korea.
Participants from Pemuda Theravada Indonesia (PATRIA), Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, Young Buddhist Association of Thailand, Japan Young Buddhist Association, Buddhist Gem Malaysia, Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia, Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia, and ZKDM Mongolia were all benefited by this opportunity. The more multinational events are held, the more chances we can embrace each other's cultural differences. This could facilitate exchange between Buddhist youth of various cultures and their international counterparts.
