The World Life-Culture Forum has come to a close at Woljeong Temple at Mount Odae, after four days of reflection on life and peace. Organized by the incorporated foundation "The Way of Life and Peace," this year's forum was the third of its kind since 2003, begun with the belief that a "culture of life" that seeks to serve and preserve could be a useful new philosophical alternative for civilization in transition. Close to 800 philosophers, theoreticians, and activists from around the world gathered to share their wisdom. It shows you that an understanding of the importance of life and peace is spreading, and that is welcome news indeed.
Of particular note is that people shared the view that the East Asian community, including Korea, is in the position to build a new civilization of life and peace. The thinking goes that having lived a half-century of invasions, oppression, dispute, and conflict, the region has stronger and more passionate desire for life and peace than anywhere else on earth. Korea has experienced the most painful history of any East Asian nations, and they said it will lead the way in fostering a true culture of life. It was interesting how the opening event was a depiction of Gang Jeungsan's giving of all power of Heaven, Earth, and Man to women, done in the form of a shamanist ritual.
The concepts of "serve" and "preserve" that were consistently referred to during the forum are worth pondering. The culture of life is a flower that blooms from serving, the common essence of all forms of life, and the culture of life is made more substantive through the course of "preserving," or giving life. The essence of the crisis faced by humanity is oppression of people and death at the hands of people, so how could serving people and preserving life ever not be of urgency? Next year's forum will be about "the study of life and the global life campaign," and we hope it becomes a time of open sharing of wisdom.
The Hankyoreh, 6 September 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] A Culture of Life |
