[Special] Be the Main Character of Your Life: 2024 Young Camp

   On September 24th, at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung-gu, Seoul, the 2024 Young Camp: The Main Character Event was held. The Young Camp is a youth Buddhist festival at Dongguk University, which is a venue for students to truly enjoy while delivering Buddha’s teachings to college students and making them feel closer to Buddhism. Join the Young Camp with the Dongguk Post in this article.

   The Young Camp was further meaningful as the Dongguk University Buddist Student Association Student Planning Committee the led the preparation for the festival with the support of Dongguk University Chairman, Monk Dongwan. The Young Camp, which involved 2,500 students, was attended by more than 100 monks, including Monk Dongwan, School President Yun Jae-woong, and university officials.

   It began with a Buddhist ceremony for ordination by monk Dongwan, who said before the ceremony, “2,500 protagonists from Dongguk came here. This moment can be recorded as word of ‘impression’ in Dongguk University’s history.” The Buddhist ceremony was held together with the active participation of student Buddhists. In particular, an orchestra performance by Dongguk University’s Department of Korean Music added more solemnity and depth to the ceremony.

   At the ceremony, Monk Dongwan preached the five Buddhist rules to the students. 1) Do not harm people’s lives, but be merciful. 2) Do not steal other people’s goods, and build a good fortune. 3) Do not think or do wrong things, and keep your good deeds. 4) Do not lie and tell the truth. 5) Keep away from addictive substances such as alcohol and develop clear wisdom. The students, accordingly, join them and become disciples of the Buddha.

   Since then, the Yeonbi (a ceremony with burning of the arm) has been held for the students who have succeeded in the system. Due to the location, it was conducted in a way that Danju was delivered instead of Yeonbi. It was spectacular to see a number of monks delivering Danju directly to the students. The students who finished the Yeonbi were awarded with a certificate. The certificate for ordination was received by Ryu Yong-hyun, the head of the student planning committee, and Choi Yoon-jung, the vice head of the student planning committee, on behalf of the students.

   Next, there were performances and prize events that students could enjoy and participate in. In the first part of the event, students participated in the event and received prizes, and various products were provided. After that,  BTENS’ (Buddha TEN Sunim) stage composed of monks and the DJ performance of Monk New Jeans Nim with exciting EDM to easily convey Buddhism, were held. The students jumped excitedly and enjoy the atmosphere. In the second part of the event, girl group Triple S, singer K.Will, and hip-hop duo Dynamicduo performed on the stage, making it a young camp event that students enjoyed together.

   At this Young Camp event, students were able to get closer to Buddhism and have fun with the active participation.