Director's greeting
Greetings from the Director
The Korean Institute for Buddhist Studies (KIBS) pursues Buddhism with an open-minded vision. No one can deny that the Buddha's teachings were inevitably a historical product of a specific period in a specific region and, in addition, have subsequently changed in various regions according to their environments and customs. I believe that Buddhism in the future should be based on an understanding of Buddhism appropriate for the new era rather than being bound by age-old conventions or bigotry of the past. Buddhism should not be caught up in the ideas that are quite often expressed in different ways in various texts created reflecting the historical circumstances, but Buddhism should be able to realize, from a modern perspective, the original meaning of the core teachings conveyed by the Buddha. Rather than being confined within the formal framework of Buddhism, I hope that Buddhists will also be able to expand their understanding with an open mind toward ideas explored through other religious traditions and ideological currents of the past. Efforts to sophisticate our thinking through the scientific knowledge we have gained in modern times should also be necessary here.
The Buddhism pursued by KIBS can no longer be confined to simply following the guidance of knowledgeable academics. I believe that each member of the KIBS community must take initiative in their understanding and practice of Buddhism with mutual sympathy and interactions among the members. In addition, to sustain the distinctive spirit of KIBS and continuously develop the institute in line with the new era, the participation of new generations is desperately needed.
I believe that these tasks can only be realized if everyone in the KIBS community actively engages in the pursuit of our goals. I sincerely ask for your participation and support in this regard. This is the mission given to all members of the institute as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.
RHI Juyung
Director, KIBS