Find Inspiration Wherever You Are

In order to develop a meditation tour course in New Zealand, I recently explored Rotorua, the main tourist area of North Island.

While I was there, I visited the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

Seeing these amazing caves reminded me of the Palace of Light in South Korea, also known as the Changdeokgung Palace, which is said to be the most traditional and authentic of Seoul’s five palaces.

I was also able to observe the traditions of the Maori tribe, because their culture is well preserved. The Maori conducted a welcome ceremony for tribe members like a play that’s made for audience participation, and they also shared the love story of their ancestors like a musical. In addition, with the typical Maori gesture that involves opening the eyes wide and sticking out the tongue, they showed their haka dances and movements by which warriors gathered their jung-ki-shin (body, energy, spirit) into one before going into battle.

As I looked around the tourist area, I felt very strongly once again that Korea also needs preserve and honor its traditional culture, one that has been diluted or forgotten. For this purpose, I had founded the Institute of Korean Cultural Studies. However, seeing the traditional Maori dances, I think we need to come up with a musical that brings to life the traditions of the Dahngun era of Korean history, an era characterized by a dynasty of forty-seven enlightened leaders.

Despite the fact that Korea enjoys diverse historical dramas and historical materials, why does it not have cultural material that deals with the Dahngun era or the genesis story of the Budoji from earlier times? Celebrating the ways to enlightenment that Korea’s ancestors knew and lived by will help revive the soul and spirit of the people.

Wherever we go and whatever we do can be fuel and inspiration for our grandest dreams and ambitions. What is inspiring you today?