Loving-kindness and Community at Sangdo Meditation Center

Ven. Dr. Misan, Professor of Sangha University and the abbot of Sangdo Meditation Center, where I have been staying in Seoul, invited me to deliver a dhamma talk today. My topic was: "Loving Kindness and Compassion as Foundational Values of the Middle Path."

The ceremony began with 108 bows, which is done meticulously by Buddhist practitioners in Korea in all occasions. Today's ceremony had many interesting aspects. There was the performance of the temple 'gandarva' musical group as well as the performance of a Korean Opera singer from California who performed three pieces including an Irish song at the end of the ceremony.

My speech was meticulously and beautifully translated into Korean language by Misan Sunim. The shrine room was full of devotees and there were several who were sitting and listening to the sermon outside the main entrance. At the end of ceremony, donations were placed in the donation box one by one and each person came round and greeted the monks and the fellow devotees.

After we all sat in a circle, all were served lotus tea and I could see the flower in the middle of each tea pot. There were custom-made special prayers at the end and I could hear my name is also inserted within the prayer by Misan Sunim.

This meditation center is very modern and the building was declared open last November. The temple complex itself is "posh" and beautifully decorated throughout using simple materials and by recycling old furniture but not compromising aesthetics.

The entire temple complex contains five floors and the shrine room is located underground. There is a special room dedicated for children and a quite active place throughout the day.

There are special programmes for children and young people. Modernity is taken into account and a delicate balance is maintained between the old and new.