Distinguished Lectures at Dongguk University

Our stay in Seoul has been very productive. Within the last three weeks, in addition to our regular study programme, we had three special lectures by three distinguished international scholars. The Electronic Buddhist Texts & Culture Content / International Association for Buddhist Thought and Culture, BK21 Buddhist Studies in a Global Age sponsored the special lecture series.
(i) Professor Jens Braavig of Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages of University of Oslo presented a paper on "Instruction to the Manuscripts of the Schoyen Collection" on 3 July 2008 and (ii) Professor Torkel Brekke of the same Department discussed a paper on "The Political Use of Buddhist Relics in Modern South Asia" on 2 July and (iii) Dr Peter Skilling of Ecole Française D'Extreme-Orient presented a paper on "The Life of the Buddha at Phanigiri in Andhra Pradesh" on 18 July.

Tuesday in Seoul

Tuesday began with an early waking up. I arrived at Dongguk University at 9 a.m. to meet the guest lecturer, Mr. Hwangbo Jin (MA student in Indian Philosophy and Current Affairs and Documentaries Dept. Organizer of Munhwa Broadcasting Corp.) who lectured on Confucianism for our students. We had lunch with Professor Sun-Keun Kim (Professor of Indian Philosophy and President of Korea Association for Buddhist Studies) who has written extensively on Mahatma Gandhi, including The Philosophical Thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi (Vikas Publishing). Afternoon was the time to meet to Dr. Hanrok Kang who lectured on "Comfort Women" of Korea during foreign occupation. Our team met briefly to plan the rest of the week. I had a friendly conversation and tea with Professor Hwang and Professor Lewis Lancaster, formerly University of California, Berkeley. I spent evening walking around Myeong-dong area and captured popular culture and music of modern Korea. Everyone is dressed well in a festive fashion.

Nationalism and Democracy in Seoul

Throughout history, Korea faced threats from her neighbours. Dongdaemun (Great East Gate) Park commemorates the national heroes. The prison in the park is a stark reminder of atrocities and memories of independence fighters. Even today, in the heart of Seoul, I witnessed a bold Korean expression of protest just beginning to get its shape before the arrival of riot Police in bus loads. Democracy is alive in this city!

Kasan Institute of Buddhist Culture and Nuns' Cafe

Since we arrived in Seoul on 30th June, we have been very busy. We visited many places and met many people who are interested in us. I have been late in reporting some of those important encounters and events. One of the first things that I did when I arrived in Seoul was meeting Ven. Dr. Misan Sunim. In the afternoon of 30th June, Professor Stephen F. Teiser (D.T. Suzuki Professor in Buddhist Studies, Princeton University, USA) who was teaching a summer course at Seoul National University, visited Sangdo Meditation Center and we were served tea by Misan Sunim in a traditional Buddhist manner. After visiting Sunim's temple, both of us were taken to Nuns' cafe located in another part of Seoul where we were served coffee by Buddhist nuns. This is a new development in modern Korean Buddhism to make Buddhism accessible to the public. The nuns' cafe is a very attractive place like the Sangdo Meditation Center. Both places are new. Misan Sunim invited both of us join him to visit Kasan Institute of Buddhist Culture on 2nd July 2008. This research institute is a very special place. It was founded in 1990 by His Holiness Jikwan Sunim, the current President of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Its important research activity is compiling Kasan Encyclopedia of Buddhism. When we arrived at the Kasan Institute of Buddhist Culture we were welcome by the Venerable nun Go OK, the present Director of the institute. We were given a warm reception. We had a tour of the research library and brief meetings with Korean researchers who work there. Our day there ended with an exquisite lunch. As a research institute, I was fascinated to learn about its resources. To my surprise, I learnt that the late Professor Heinz Bechert of University of Gottingen in Germany, who had contributed immensely to the study of Theravada Buddhism, had donated his vast collection of Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and other library materials to Kasan Institute of Buddhist Culture. We had a fruitful day in the company of a warm and generous gathering.

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.

Farewell Party for Gombrich and Graduation

In the evening of 14th July, Professor Il Chung Kim, the Dean of the International Programs & Education at Dongguk University invited all the lecturers in the Summer School and his team of colleagues for a special farewell dinner at Sun and Moon Restaurant located at the National Gallery. It was a superb sign of warm hospitality and cordiality surrounding discussions on the significance of playing golf in modern Korea. We learnt a great deal on the influence of business practices on academy.

On 14th of July, Professor Gombrich left Seoul. In his absence, Dr. Deegalle delivered the last lecture entitled "Practising Buddhism in the Context of War: The Case of Sri Lanka in "The Buddha: Buddhist Thought & Culture" Lecture series.

Afterwards, Dr. Deegalle distributed the graduation certificates for the participants of the summer school. Ms. Hannah White, a third year Single Honours Study of Religions Students at Bath Spa University, who returned to England this week, also received the certificate for the completion of the two-weeks summer course.

Encounters in Korean Style Hospitality

On Thursday evening after Professor Hwang's introduction to Korean Religions and Culture which is stimulating and inspiring with a 'thick' description of Korean culture, we were invited by the Indian Philosophy team for a dinner and a visit to Insadong area with a special Korean style of hospitality. Unlike the rest of Seoul, Insadong area still retains remnants of the past. The narrow alleys are packed with shoppers, shops, restaurants and art galleries. I got an opportunity to share with you our rich encounters and experiences as you can see from the photographs.