POSTED: February 19th 2011
InDepth
Monks have own Winter Games agenda for sake of world peace
KEIR RADNEDGE in PyeongChang / Sports Features Communications
PYEONGCHANG, Feb 19: The monks of the scenically-set Woljeongsa Monastery are concentrating their spiritual powers in the hope that nearby PyeongChang will achieve the temporal success of landing the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
But, as Abbott Toeu Jeongnyeom explained, this is nothing to do - of course - with the commercial or even sporting profit which would accrue to the region if the IOC votes for the Korean bid rather than Annecy or Munich in Durban on July 6.
No, the 30 monks of Woljeongsa are offering the alternative manifesto: one which is focused on peace in the Korean peninsula and the world beyond . . . as well as introducing more people, along the way, to the culture and values of Buddhism.
The monks' day lasts from 6am to 9pm and the majority of their time is spent in meditation. Naturally, the pursuit of personal peace has to embrace peace in the world.
Abbott Toeu said: "South Korea and North Korea need to work together in peace and we need to develop peace in all of north-east Asia and then further out into the world so we pray for peace and reunification.
"If PyeongChang wins these Games then it will contribute to the peace of the world."
Keywords · Woljeongsa · monks · PyeongChang · 2018 Winter Olympics
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