{"id":99,"date":"2026-05-23T07:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T00:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/?p=99"},"modified":"2026-05-23T07:31:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T00:31:46","slug":"prof-dr-soonil-hwang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/?p=99","title":{"rendered":"Prof Dr. Soonil Hwang"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Vesak Reflection: Finding Peace in a Tumultuous World<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HWANG Soonil<\/p>\n\n\n\n

College of Buddhism, Dongguk University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this Vesak, as we celebrate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, his profound Enlightenment, and his ultimate Parinirvana, we are reminded of a journey that transcends time and circumstance. The Buddha\u2019s life is not merely a historical narrative; it is a living embodiment of a path \u2013 a path from the depths of suffering to the boundless liberation of Nirvana. It is a path of unwavering compassion, profound wisdom, and an enduring commitment to peace. This day, we celebrate not just a birth, an awakening, and a final release, but the enduring legacy of these transformative events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, however, our celebrations are tempered by a stark reality. The world stands at a cliff, facing unprecedented challenges that threaten the very fabric of our shared existence. Regional conflicts, once localized, now ripple outwards like concentric circles, profoundly impacting global economies and, most tragically, the well-being of all living beings. The displacement of families, the erosion of livelihoods, and the constant threat of violence cast a long shadow across our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We witness, with increasing dismay, the consequences of decisions driven by shortsightedness and disregard for the long-term welfare of humanity. Political landscapes are fractured, fueled by polarization and a climate of fear. The pursuit of power, often at the expense of compassion and understanding, seems to dominate the narrative. The relentless pursuit of economic growth, detached from ethical considerations, make worse inequalities and leaves countless individuals marginalized and vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, amidst this darkness, the Buddha’s teachings offer a timeless and profoundly relevant antidote. The Dharma, the Buddha\u2019s teachings, is not a passive philosophy but an active practice \u2013 a dynamic guide for navigating the complexities of life, especially times of profound crisis. His core message is a beacon of hope: “Hatred cannot be cured by hatred; only by cultivating loving-kindness and compassion can we truly heal and build a more just and peaceful world.” This isn\u2019t merely a comforting sentiment; it’s a radical proposition, a call to fundamentally alter our approach to conflict and suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loving-kindness and Compassion extend beyond simple benevolence; it\u2019s an active and unwavering wish for the happiness and well-being of all<\/em> beings, even those who cause us harm. It requires a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all life \u2013 recognizing that our individual well-being is inextricably linked to the well-being of others. When we harm another, we ultimately harm ourselves. When we uplift another, we uplift ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us renew our commitment to these fundamental Buddhist principles, not as abstract ideals, but as guiding forces in our daily lives. Striving to embody the Buddha\u2019s wisdom in our thoughts, words, and actions is not a passive undertaking. It requires constant self-reflection, mindful awareness, and a willingness to challenge our own biases and prejudices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Vesak serves as a powerful reminder that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the active cultivation of compassion, understanding, and empathy. It calls us to work tirelessly, not just for the cessation of violence, but for the eradication of the underlying conditions that give rise to it \u2013 poverty, inequality, ignorance, and fear. It invites us to be agents of change, to embody the Buddha\u2019s teachings in our own lives and to share that wisdom with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us, on this sacred day, dedicate ourselves to fostering a global community rooted in compassion, understanding, and a shared commitment to the well-being of all. May this Vesak inspire us to be beacons of hope, illuminating the path towards a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Namo Buddhaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29-06-2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HWANG Soonil<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Vesak Reflection: Finding Peace in a Tumultuous World HWANG Soonil College of Buddhism, Dongguk University On this Vesak, as we celebrate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, his profound Enlightenment, and his ultimate Parinirvana, we are reminded of a journey that transcends time and circumstance. The Buddha\u2019s life is not merely a historical narrative; it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-message"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=99"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99\/revisions\/100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=99"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=99"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vesak2026.mcu.ac.th\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=99"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}