Lotus lanterns adorn the compound of Jogye Temple in central Seoul in this photo taken May 14, 2024, the day prior to Buddha’s Birthday. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism will launch a weeklong cultural exchange program in New York on Saturday, aiming to introduce Korean Zen meditation and temple cuisine to local audiences.
A group of around 100 monks and staff members from the Jogye Order will be visiting the U.S. city on Oct. 5-13 as part of the 2024 Korea-U.S. Buddhist cultural exchange program, the Buddhist sect said Friday.
The event will focus on Ganhwa Seon — a form of Korean Zen Buddhist meditation practice — and the broader appeal of Korean Buddhism.
Highlighting the visit, Ven. Jinwoo, the general director of the Jogye Order, will deliver a lecture on Thursday at Yale University.
The lecture, centered on Zen meditation and mental health, will offer students a chance to practice “5-minute Zen meditation.”
During his stay, Jinwoo will also meet with prominent figures like Jon Kabat-Zinn, developer of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Menas Kafatos, a quantum physicist at Chapman University, to explore the convergence of meditation, modern science and Buddhism.
He will also honor Korean War veterans with medals of appreciation.
As part of its global outreach, the Jogye Order delegation plans to visit the United Nations headquarters Friday to propose the establishment of an International Day of Meditation, a move that coincides with the order’s recent initiative to promote daily 5-minute meditation practices.
The cultural exchange will also coincide with the 2024 Korean Festival in New York, where traditional Buddhist culture will be on display.
The Jogye Order will host an exhibition of traditional lanterns and photo displays at the Korean Cultural Center in the city from Oct 7-13.
Another highlight of the week’s events will be a special dinner at Gotham Hall in Manhattan on Friday, where renowned temple cuisine master, Ven. Jeonggwan, will showcase temple dishes.
The dinner, co-hosted by the Jogye Order and the Korean Consulate General in New York, will introduce guests to the Buddhist philosophies behind the preparation and consumption of temple food.
On Oct. 13, the Jogye Order will hold a Buddhist ceremony at Won Gak Sa, a temple belonging to the overseas special parish of the Jogye Order in New York State, to mark its 50th anniversary.
(Yonhap)
