Laongjeong in Wonju
“To be, or not to be.” That was the question for Hamlet. “To have, or not to have,” would be the question for contemporary people. I think being and having are two existential conditions for every human being.
Nobody would deny that being is much more important than having, but the competitive reality gives more priority to what we have. The more we have, the more we want to have something good and convenient. Perhaps this belief is part of the instinctive and egoistic logic of capitalism.
When I first committed to my life as a religious sister, I made three vows: obedience, chastity and poverty. Living with the spiritual attitudes of obedience, chastity and poverty is far from the logic of having more and more. Keeping these three vows leads religious people to be simple, frugal and free from every kind of possession.
Non-possession is a spiritual virtue of all of the religious people not only in Catholicism but also in Buddhism. By the end of the year, some religious congregations make their total finances zero and begin again with nothing in the New Year. Nevertheless, I am still not free from the many things I have. I try to possess the most necessary things only, but I still have some unnecessary things.
One day, while I was taking a walk, I passed by the Laongjeong near Koinonia Book Cafe, a small and medium-sized neighborhood bookshop in front of Dangwan Elementary School in Wonju. The Laongjeong monument was set up on top of the Laongjeong hill in the village. Laongjeong monument was built in memory of the transfer of 60 households that had to move to other villages due to the development of the Gwanseoldong area in 1994. Those who had to move had raised the funds to build the Laongjeong monument, so as not to forget the precious memory of their hometown.
It is said that the Wonju stream flowed in front of a small rocky hill at the entrance of the neighboring village. There was a pavilion on the hill, where high priest (Master) Laong from the Goryeo Kingdom used to fish. Laong liked to fish, but every time he caught a fish, he let it go. And yet he continued to fish. So, that place was later called “Laongjeong” (the pavilion of Laong) after Master Laong.
The nearby street was also named Laongjeong-gil. The legend of Laong caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks. Later on, I often imagine the high priest who returned freedom to fish after catching them. His behavior made me ponder the spiritual beauty of being free and living simply.
In this high-tech era filled with speed, competition and efficiency, who will give in first and let others live better? Those who pursue a spiritual vocation are willing to give in, share and let others live as fully as possible. A rich young man once asked Jesus: “What good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied to him to keep the commandments first and to share with others. “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)