Shincheonji volunteer, Communications with Buddhism Linked to Mural Painting Volunteer Work.

Shincheonji Volunteer Organization of the Seoul Church, Seoul James Tribe

Communications with Buddhism Linked to Mural Painting Volunteer Work.

Hello! This is the prestigious Seoul James Tribe. ^_______^

The mural painting volunteer organization of the Seoul James Tribe visited 

the Samwon Temple of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order.

The first time the volunteers went to Samwon Temple was in April to plant 

Ericaceae trees and on the second visit, the volunteers painted murals.

Shincheonji Volunteer Organization of the Seoul Church, Seoul James Tribe

Mural painting story of the prestigious

Seoul James Tribe: Samwon Temple

The wall of the Samwon Temple seemed lonely and miserable.

Would you like to take a look at the changes made after one week?

First of all, they started by getting rid of the dirt and stains on

the old and shabby wall, one by one

This work was personally very fun for me.

When you take off the dirty stuff, does it feel cool and fresh?

The contents of the Samwon Temple mural paintings are composed of

symbolic elephants that are considered auspicious to Buddhists and

"Shipjangsaeng" symbols which signify man’s yearning for longevity

to the citizens visiting the Bukhansan hiking trail.

We have been checking the beautiful mural design and getting ready 

to draw sketches.

We should beautifully color in the sketch after drawing it so it will

become a work of art.

Just like a lovely view makes bread more appetizing, we need volunteer

workers who have deft talents for handicrafts in this process.

Shincheonji Volunteer Organization of the Seoul Church, Seoul James Tribe

Before and After

The volunteer work of mural painting started on April 24th and over

ten volunteers joined every day until the work finally finished on May 2nd.

The wall paintings look lively in the static temple due to the vibrant

colors that match well with the temple environment.

One of the citizens who looked at the mural paintings at the temple

made a positive comment that it feels great to see the murals whenever

they go for a walk.

I will tell you about the precious visits to Samwon Temple for awhile.

The first visit to Samwon Temple, which is located on a hiking trail

on Bukhan Mountain in the Jungreung 4-dong, Sungbukgu area of Seoul,

occurred in conjunction with the planting of 200 Ericaceae trees

around the back area of the temple on April 18th.

Volunteers of the Seoul James Tribe of Shincheonji suggested, during a

meeting at the temple, that they could create murals after they saw

the old, peeling and discolored paintings around the temple.

The chief Buddhist monk of Samwon temple delightfully accepted the

offer and purpose of the Shincheonji mural painting volunteer work.

Shincheonji Volunteer Organization of the Seoul Church, Seoul James Tribe

What is the story of the wall?

The story of the temple wall can be a lesson to show that members of

different religions as well as foreigners can engage in the volunteer

work of mural painting which can show the hearts of people while they

are cleaning the environment and overcoming their differences. 

This work can help to create harmony in society.

Furthermore, the activity is designed to show the true spirit of Jesus

and love for our neighbors.

Shincheonji Volunteer Organization of the Seoul Church, Seoul James Tribe

Place of communication beyond religion and race

The volunteer work on the wall was joined by a lot of foreigners

proving that the work in this place transcended religion and race.

How wonderful it was to hear what our Bangladeshi friend, Pappy, said

about what we drew, saw, and the delicious food that we ate at this happy moment.

In fact, I do not have foreign friends, am not Buddhist, and could

hardly have had the chance to meet foreigners as well as a Buddhist

monk if it were not for the volunteer work of mural painting.

It was fabulous to communicate with the Buddhist monk and talk with

foreign friends through body gestures during the course of the work on this mural painting.

Shincheonji Volunteer Organization of the Seoul Church, Seoul James Tribe

I was more pleased with the volunteers' warm hearts than the paintings. 

Above all, we felt touched that the chief Buddhist monk would allow a

mural painting to be drawn on Samwon Temple.

I am more pleased by the volunteers' warm hearts than the mural

painting art work they created.

I can appreciate that certain actions come from the heart that we can

collectively share even if it’s only for a little moment.

- Buddhist monk -

A Buddhist monk thanked the volunteer workers of Shincheonji and the

Shincheonji church. The head monk, representing the Samwon Temple and

Korea’s Jogye Order of Buddhist monks, spoke more highly of the hearts

of the volunteers than the art work they created.

 I felt sincerely thankful that the volunteer work was the medium

through which we had an experience that allowed us to break down the

walls around our hearts, even though we belong to different races,

different nationalities and different religions.

I think that this is what God wants us to do and through the volunteer

work, we can become one and overcome our differences rather than

arguing and claiming the superiority of our beliefs and faith.

I hope you can join the volunteer work and paint murals if you want a challenge.