Religious groups stress 'unity' before Buddha's Birthday amid COVID-19

By Park Ji-won

Leaders of major religious groups stressed the importance of seeking unity between religions and people amid the COVID-19 pandemic when commemorating Buddha's Birthday, which falls Thursday.

Ven. Wonhaeng, leader of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, read the statement of Ven. Jinje, the spiritual leader of the Jogye Order that stated: “To overcome the difficulties we face today, we need to stop confronting each other and pave the way to unify for the new future… By forgiving each other and seeking unification, we can overcome this national disaster wisely… Commemorating Buddha's Birthday, people and Buddhists need to seek world peace by lighting up the lotus lanterns so that the coronavirus can be eradicated.”

Emphasizing that Jogye Order's temples are providing space and accommodation for medical staff who have been fighting COVID-19, he urged Buddhists to abide by the spirit of the founder of Buddhism and act responsibly.

Earlier, the Jogye Order decided to delay the Buddhist holiday to May 30 to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung delivered a congratulatory message Tuesday to the Jogye Order to commemorate the ceremonial event. “As a citizen, I appreciate your decision to delay the event for Budda's Birthday,” he said.

Cardinal Andrew also highlighted the importance of religious groups joining hands to overcome the difficulties.

“I think Buddhism and Catholicism share the same religious values praying for people's happiness and looking for forgiveness. Let's join hands to be an example to spread the values of mercy, peace and love throughout the world instead of spreading distrust, resentment and rage created by the infectious disease.”

The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), a liberal group of Protestant churches, also released a congratulatory message Wednesday to celebrate the birth of Buddha, stressing cooperation between religious groups to tackle the disaster.

“Amid the crisis of the spread of COVID-19, I realize that Buddhists and Christians are organically connected in this universe, affecting each other,” Rev. Lee Hong-jung, general secretary of the NCCK, said in a statement Wednesday. “It is fundamentally the same what Buddha did to the world to save people and what Jesus did for the love of people. If Buddhists and Christians work together, we will make a harmonious world where justice and peace can be combined.”

A scaled-back version of the Lotus Lantern Festival, which is the one of the largest yearly events for Buddhists held on the sidelines of other birthday events, will be held Thursday in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, participated in by 50 monks without citizens to prevent the spread of the infectious disease. Some 50,000 lanterns will be hung throughout Seoul to pray for an end to the pandemic.