2+ week, 5+ day ago (744+ words) Published : Nov. 10, 2025 - 15:51:15 Updated : Nov. 10, 2025 - 15:51:37 Engaging in one conversation at a time, Buddhist monk helps ease concerns The Ven. Pomnyun walked onstage to a rock beat Friday afternoon, moments after the singer Maya energized the opening of Youth Festa. Before hundreds of young people, he launched into his signature live dialogue " often mislabeled as an "instant Q&A." "I cannot trust my senses because I'm disabled. I kind of realized that I have to live differently from those without a disability, but I don't know what to do next," a person in the audience poses. "I'm struggling in my relationship with my mother. My father passed away when I was young, and she has relied on me emotionally ever since. She has always been harsh with me, and while I know I should feel grateful and compassionate toward her, her constant negativity…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago (665+ words) World Buddhism reaches the Vatican: A step towards global dialogue Published : Nov. 7, 2025 - 09:00:00 VATICAN CITY (Sin Chew Daily/ANN) -- The delegation of Buddhist groups to the Vatican attending the 60th anniversary celebration of Nostra Astate and a major interfaith exchange event is a case of Buddhism on the world stage. The delegation of 80 members from the United Association of Humanistic Buddhism Chunghua with more than 200 Buddhism groups in Taiwan, was the only Chinese Buddhist group invited to attend the ceremony, meet Pope Leo XIV, and participate in a series of interreligious dialogue activities. Venerable Yi Kong, executive director of the United Association of Humanistic Buddhism Chunghua and director of the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Culture, said it was an honor that Chinese Buddhism is generating growing influence on the global stage. The delegation met Pope Leo XIV during a grand ceremony…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (850+ words) Published : Nov. 6, 2025 - 09:00:00 The countdown to Suneung brings out South Korea's unique blend of spirituality and pop culture, where Buddha statues and K-pop idols alike offer comfort to the anxious With just a week left until South Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test, or the notorious Suneung, anxiety is mounting nationwide. A post on Karrot, South Korea's top peer-to-peer marketplace, recently sold a set of seven felt-tip pens " used to mark answers on the exam " for 25,000 won ($18). Each pen featured cheerful encouragements from members of the K-pop boy band Monsta X. "You can do it! Suneung is nothing big. - Kihyun," read one message printed in the singer's own handwriting. Others prefer idols with academic prestige. Cha Eun-woo of Astro, who graduated from Sungkyunkwan University, ranked fourth in Korea according to QS Rankings, is a popular choice among test-takers hoping his success rubs off....

2+ week, 15+ hour ago (1159+ words) Published : Nov. 15, 2025 - 16:00:00 From virtual monks leading online sermons to Christian pastors preaching in former nightclubs, Korea's religious communities are reinventing tradition to resonate with a generation raised on memes, K-pop and social media A young Buddhist nun, Catholic priest and Protestant pastor recently appeared on tvN's popular variety show "You Quiz on the Block." Between laughter, filming social media challenges and dancing to the viral "KPop Demon Hunters" song "Soda Pop," they spoke about how hard it is to avoid K-pop. Their cheerful appearance contrasted sharply with an earlier episode, in which senior clerics discussed doctrine and inter-religious dialogue in hushed tones. More young South Koreans are identifying as atheist or unaffiliated, prompting religious groups to reinvent themselves: from virtual Buddhist monks and K-pop-inspired rituals to churches that blend in with Seoul's nightlife. According to a 2024 survey by Hankook Research,…...