He added that, in an era marked by war, conflict and hardship, Korea needs a larger role for Korean Buddhism—one that carries forward the Buddha’s great teachings and the tradition of ho-guk (protective) Buddhism.
He noted that, for 1,700 years, Korean Buddhism has stood alongside the nation’s history as a form of "defense Buddhism" that helps safeguard the people’s welfare and peace, and he said the country and its people owe a great debt to Korean Buddhism.
He urged Korean Buddhism to assume a broader role guided by the spirit of wonyong-muae (圓融無碍—mutual harmony without opposition) and wonyong-hwahap (圓融和合—harmony and integration). He expressed the hope that currents of harmony, coexistence and mutual prosperity will swell into a powerful tide, guiding a world troubled by affliction toward peace and wide reconciliation.
