Chapter 94

94

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– condivi, The Life of Michelangelo, p. 106.

“He often fell asleep in bed without taking off the clothes and boots he had worn all day. Sometimes he even wore the same clothes for days, and his skin would peel off like snake scales from the boots.”

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Late afternoon.

The car sped down the street, the setting sun providing a splendid backdrop.

It was heading in the opposite direction of the large church everyone was heading towards. The SUV glided along the Seoul roads without any hindrance.

"Going to Bongeunsa on Christmas? Really. When did my brother become so peculiar?"

Kang Chae-young looked at the seat beside her with a surprised expression. Kang Seok was sitting in the seat beside her. Then, Baek Myung-hee, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned around.

Baek Myung-hee, who was sitting in the driver's seat, glanced at Kang Hyun-do and said with a smile,

"Why not? Mom and Dad think it's good that our family is all going out together like this. It's worth buying the car...!"

"True. I thought it was useless to buy an SUV for the sake of driving around together, but thanks to Seok, it's finally being put to use."

"What?"

"I'm driving. I'm driving."

"I know. Come on, get out and look, will you?"

"What... As long as Mom and Dad are happy, that's fine. I don't really mind either."

Kang Seok, who was wearing an eye mask, only curled the corners of his mouth in response to the family's conversation. He didn't answer Kang Chae-young's question, but he was listening to everything.

Kang Seok, who had returned to Korea, had spent a few chaotic days and was now finally regaining some stability and heading to Bongeunsa with his family.

.

.

.

Bongeunsa.

A thousand-year-old temple nestled in the heart of Gangnam.

Upon arrival, the head monk of Bongeunsa, Beopgye, greeted them with a bright face at the main gate, Jinru Gate.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Following Beopgye's lead, the family quickly moved. They were originally non-religious, so they were not accustomed to visiting temples on such occasions.

"Bongeunsa is quite crowded even on Christmas."

"True."

"......It's all thanks to the Venerable. Since the temporary installation here, more people have been visiting on holidays."

While Bongeunsa was already crowded on holidays, Beopgye emphasized Kang Seok's contribution to make him look good.

Kang Seok, knowing this, shook his head as if he couldn't stop it. Kang Chae-young, who didn't know this, looked at Kang Seok with renewed surprise, while Kang Hyun-do and Baek Myung-hee walked with red faces, proud of Kang Seok and moved by the moment.

The location was in the courtyard to the right of Beopwang Pavilion, past the main gate, Jinru Gate.

In the center of the courtyard, surrounded by the Seonbul Hall, Jijang Hall, Plum Hall, and the Traditional Culture Experience Hall, it stood majestically.

People were gathered in a small space to bow, and the surrounding area was filled with people making the sign of the cross. Since it was a temporary installation, a wishing hall was not suitable, so it was not visible.

The setting sun.

Kang Chae-young, Kang Hyun-do, and Baek Myung-hee took turns gasping in amazement as they saw the light of the setting sun illuminating the path between the people.

It seemed to be glowing as if it had received the light of everyone's prayers.

"......The location behind Hwaeul Pavilion is wider, but the light is not natural due to the Mireuk Daebul Square nearby, so we placed it here."

Kang Hyun-do smiled in response to Beopgye's repeated explanation that the location was not chosen casually.

"Is it the sun during the day and the moon at night? Haha."

"That's right. It's all thanks to Bongeunsa. Thank you, Venerable."

Kang Seok smiled meaningfully at this.

Unlike the Mireuk Daebul Square, the front of it was a temporary courtyard, so there was no wishing hall, and the space for bowing was narrow, but people kept coming.

Compared to the Mireuk Daebul, which would remain permanently, the news that it would soon leave for a white temple in Thailand and not be seen again made it even more popular, but it was a satisfying sight.

"By the way, Cardinal Yeo Jin-seok Stefano said at the last tea talk that you still haven't given an answer. What has been going on?"

"Haha. I've been busy. By the way, I thought there would be fewer people at the church on Christmas, but there are quite a few people here to see the Gwanghwa Yeoraebul."

Kang Seok changed the subject.

Beopgye, who had a kind smile like a Hahoe mask, nodded at this.

Since Kang Seok didn't want to answer, Beopgye had no reason to press further.

"Everyone doesn't believe in the same god. It's a rare holiday, and this temple is easy to visit in the city. With here, wouldn't you want to come?"

Beopgye smiled kindly, subtly hinting at it.

"That's true."

"Right."

While they were having a calm conversation, Beopgye suddenly looked up.

The sun was setting.

Thinking it was just the right time, Beopgye smiled.

"Now that the most beautiful time is over, people will soon leave. Would you like to have a cup of tea?"

How about having a cup of tea and having a deep conversation about the work? Beopgye looked at Kang Seok with bright eyes.

"......Can I go around the area first?"

"Ah, yes. Of course, if you wish. I'll wait here."

Kang Seok nodded at Beopgye's smile and slowly took a step forward. Kang Chae-young, who was taking photos excitedly, tilted her head.

"Brother, why are you going there suddenly? Is there a problem?"

With a look of pure curiosity and concern, Kang Seok shook his head.

Kang Seok had several reasons for coming here on Christmas.

He wanted to spend some time with his family in a less crowded place, he wanted to fulfill his mother's wish to go on an outing with the SUV, and he wanted to see his work after a long time, among other reasons. But the main reason for coming to Bongeunsa on Christmas to see it was for this.

"Even after quite some time, it seems they haven't found it."

"......What?"

What do you mean? Before Kang Chae-young could ask, Kang Seok took out a candle from his pocket. It was a wish candle sold at Bongeunsa Beopwang Pavilion.

When did he buy this? Kang Chae-young and Kang Hyun-do, as well as Baek Myung-hee and Beopgye, looked at Kang Seok in surprise.

Regardless,

Kang Seok then took out a lighter from the opposite pocket.

"Oh, he's!"

Baek Myung-hee pointed at the lighter in surprise. It seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. As Kang Seok made a clicking sound with his fingernails, the lighter lit up.

Kang Seok was already standing in front of it.

People were walking towards the main gate, their backs to it, as the darkness of evening was setting in. It was winter, so the days were short.

Kang Seok stood by its side, unnoticed by the crowd, and brought the lit wish candle towards the Gwanghwa Yeoraebul.

Beopgye, who was watching, stepped forward in surprise, fearing that the white marble might be scorched. He hesitated, wondering if he should stop Kang Seok.

But this statue was not his.

In a moment of hesitation,

The candle flame that Kang Seok lit passed through the thigh of the Gwanghwa Yeoraebul, through the gap between the lotus pedestal and the thigh, and disappeared into a crevice.

"......!"

Beopgye was so shocked that he almost dropped his staff, unable to hide his astonishment.

He knew there was a hollow, but he didn't know it was large enough to fit a wish candle.

At that moment,

A small flame spread in the setting sun.

Kang Seok watched as the flame spread, as if the statue had swallowed the candle and turned into a giant lantern. It was as if the statue itself had become a lantern, radiating light.

This is it.

Kang Seok watched with satisfaction.

White Onyx.

The white marble, reminiscent of porcelain, was a stone that transmitted light more beautifully from the inside than from the outside.

The light spread through the cloud-like patterns, as if they were the trails of passing clouds.

The low and humble candle flame, true to its nature of transmitting light, burned brightly, as if the statue had become a candle.

It was as if a full moon was hidden in its dantian.

"......This is what I wanted to see."

Gwanghwa (光華).

The name was fitting.

It was dazzlingly bright and beautiful.

Kang Seok slowly turned to look at Beopgye, who was still surprised. Even if someone had found it, it would have been difficult to understand the intention unless it was explained.

As the temporary exhibition period was coming to an end, he wanted to make sure Bongeunsa didn't miss this, which was the reason for his visit today.

"Ah......"

Whether Beopgye understood Kang Seok's intention or not,

Beopgye slowly clasped his hands, looking at the moon on the ground that illuminated the darkness.

The real form of it was to become a lamp, holding the sun during the day and the moon at night.

Beopgye, wanting to see the candle flame more closely, turned to the senior monk beside him.

"Senior monk."

"Yes, Venerable."

Beopgye whispered quietly.

"Let's turn off all the lights in the courtyard."

"......What? But, Venerable, if we do that......"

"Let's turn off the lights. Senior monk."

"......Yes, yes. I understand."

The timid senior monk quickly turned to turn off the lanterns attached to the small courtyard. The lanterns near the courtyard were quickly extinguished, and the lights in the nearby buildings were turned off on his instructions.

Darkness quickly enveloped the area.

"What, what is this?"

"Suddenly......a power outage?"

People who were about to go home stopped in surprise at the sudden darkness and looked around. It was already night, as it was winter.

At that moment,

A crimson shadow slowly spread on the ground, swallowed by the dark night.

"......A candle?"

"What is it?"

People slowly turned their heads, following the spreading light shadow.

A quiet night.

A sacred night.

A night where everything was buried in darkness.

While everyone was decorating Christmas trees and enjoying Christmas at churches, cathedrals, or at home,

A single lamp bloomed, sheltered from the cold winter wind.

Nearby, where all the lights had been extinguished,

People gathered around the small lamp that had been lit, forming a circle and looking up quietly.

It was a strangely moving scene.

Beopgye, watching this, deeply reflected.

'I didn't even know there was such a device hidden......'

It was all due to his own shortcomings and lack of attention. Beopgye reflected on himself and closed his eyes to feel this moment of silence.

Jedae Myeong, Beopdae Myeong.

Be a lamp unto yourselves and rely on yourselves. Also, be a lamp unto the truth and rely on the truth. Do not rely on anything else.

At this moment,

This teaching was present here.

In Buddhism, hanging lanterns means lighting a lamp. It symbol