Chapter 14-15
by Han Yong-un · 2026-08-25
The nun, who had been listening carefully to Sun-young's words, nodded her head.
“Yes……”
“Then that is undoubtedly the work of our master.”
“Our master's Dharma name is Jeong-gong, and he is kind-hearted and has done many good deeds, so he is called Gong-bosal.”
“Among the monks in this temple, there is no one else who would do such a thing except for that elder.”
“And I have heard such words before.”
“That monk saw a girl of about twelve years old drowning in the sea at Wonsan while he was on his way back from Geumgangsan.”
“He gave money to a swimmer to rescue her and also gave ten won to the girl who had drowned.”
“When he spoke of such things, not only I but many others heard it together.”
“If he had come just a couple of months earlier, I would have been able to meet him.”
“If we had met, how delighted we would have been.”
The nun also looked at Sun-young with concern.
Sun-young, in a hurry, could not go anywhere else just because Gong-bosal had passed away.
However, staying at the temple left her feeling very troubled as there was no one to rely on.
Then, in a quiet moment, she spoke in detail about her circumstances without hiding anything in front of several people.
The listeners found it strange and fascinating, and some even exclaimed in admiration.
Moreover, the disciples of Gong-su-jo welcomed Sun-young as if they were meeting a brother or relative and felt pity for her.
Sun-young decided to become the chief disciple of Gong-su-jo after discussing with several monks.
Before becoming a monk, Sun-young prepared some incense and candles to offer prayers for Dae-cheol's spirit.
In the prayer, she wrote down Kim Dae-cheol and Kim Nan-hyang as a couple.
And she also offered prayers for her own well-being.
The next day was the day of the conclusion of Gong-su-jo's 49-day memorial.
As the bell rang in the hall, decorated with flowers, incense, and lanterns, all the rituals began.
Amidst the burning incense and offering of tea, the clear and leisurely sound of the chanting resonated.
That sound guided both the spirits with masters and those without, including the sorrowful souls, to a good lotus land.
In such a situation, Sun-young shaved her head and changed into clothes dyed with ink.
And first, she received the five precepts, and her Dharma name was given as Seon-haeng.
At night, the sermon began.
The renowned monk Deok-am, who came from Anbyeon Seokwangsa, ascended to the lion seat with a sacred demeanor.
After striking the gavel once, he offered a lion's roar for the spirit of Gong-su-jo.
Then he began his sermon with these words.
“From now on, I will speak for the newly ordained Seon-haeng.
“Seon-haeng is a person who has had a deep connection with the Buddha since a past life and has performed great deeds in this world.”
“The people of the world may not understand why the deeds of Seon-haeng are great.”
“They might say that she sacrificed her life for a husband who was not like a human or for a worthless opium addict,”
“and might even mock and slander Seon-haeng.”
“However, that is absolutely not the case.”
“What Seon-haeng did for Kim Dae-cheol was not purely for her husband as a wife.”
“It was not due to a lack of judgment or because she blindly obeyed without thought.”
“Seon-haeng acted with the most beautiful and innocent heart of gratitude towards others and with the beautiful virtue of pity for the unfortunate,”
“and she did that without even realizing it.”
“Seon-haeng does not possess any religious training or academic knowledge; she did not learn to act.”
“Moreover, she did not do it seeking honor or expecting any reward.”
“She acted solely out of her innate nature.”
“She was able to perform difficult tasks that could not be endured physically or mentally, which is truly remarkable.”
“Especially as a weak woman, she showed such patience.”
“Whether a person sacrifices for an individual, society, or country, there will be differences in scale.”
“However, it is the same that a person must have the spirit to walk the difficult path without bending even after being bent a hundred times.”
“It is not that sacrificing for the country or society is greater, and sacrificing for an individual is smaller.”
“It is only the result that differs; the spirit of sacrifice of the acting person is the same.”
“Yet, looking at the current state of human relationships and society, there are many pitiable things.”
“As a dignified man, while shouting about ideologies and philosophies as if he alone leads the world,”
“before he knows it, he fades away like a candle, and the noble man of the morning becomes a lowly man by evening, and yesterday's ideologist becomes today's opponent.”
“The speed at which he changes according to his own interests and joys is not even faster than a cat's eye.”
“Yet, Seon-haeng is a woman who hears the words ‘Weak one, your name is woman.’”
“Without any education, with only her beautiful innate quality, she endured all the pains that the world could not bear.”
“To repay her kindness, she sacrificed many years with pure compassion; how can that not be great?”
“When people receive kindness, they are grateful, but after some time, few remember that kindness.”
“Just not forgetting kindness is already a considerable feat,”
“but to repay it by enduring all temptations and humiliations, sacrificing all her happiness as a tribute of gratitude.”
“If this is not great, then what is great?”
“If the roles were reversed and Seon-haeng were in a position to serve the country,”
“she would have made the same sacrifices and moved forward to the end.”
“If she had become some ideologist or philosopher, she would have remained steadfast, risking her life,”
“and would have made those monkey-like gentlemen ashamed to death.”
“Someone like Seon-haeng is truly a great person.”