On the occasion of commemorating its 30th year of foundation this year, we are happy to organize, with Hwal-Seong Sunim present, "the Forum on The Middle Way"

Hwal-Seong Sunim has maintained a firm belief that the Buddha's teachings has been properly preserved in the Pali Canons, not in Mahayana canons of Northeast Asia nor Hinayana canons of Southeast Asia(Sanskrit-based canons by Sarvastivada School). In accordance with this opinion, this forum organized by the Calm Voice Society will try to review the current state of Buddhism in Korea within the frame of the Sunim's Dhamma talks that the foundational canon of the original Buddhism is Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta - the Setting in Motion of the Wheel of the Dhamma Canon - whose core teachings is about the Right Eightfold Path in terms of the Middle Way, and the concept of Sati occupies a central position in it.

One may argue that there could not be more urgent need for the teachings of the Middle Way than today in the over 2,500 year old history of Buddhism in which the Wheel of the Dhamma never stopped for a moment. The world is now in the midst of extreme ideological conflicts. And material abundance has deepened social conflicts more. Scientific advancement has also led to worsening enslavement of people.

At the time when we need wisdom to turn such extreme crises into beneficial opportunity, I sincerely hope that this 'Forum on The Middle Way' could illuminate, in a more convincing logic to everybody, the fact that the Right Eightfold Path only could provide for the road to "mutually beneficial coexistence" and that the concept of the Middle Way only could provide for ways to overcome all sorts of conflicts and to secure peace in a sustainable manner. And I would also like to see that this forum could possibly constitute a new starting point for 'campaign for right mindfulness of ourselves' for people who have pursued external things, while leaving minds in the darkness of lust, anger and delusion. In closing, I really pray from the bottom of my heart that this opportune gathering could contribute to providing opportunity that the Buddha's teachings would become revitalized as the true teachings so as for us to be able to tear down barriers among ourselves and share infinite blessings together.