As the second day of the IDAKI Counseling Course finished, the vast and heavy veil that had been cast over us was lifted, and a new morning has dawned. Listening to messages carried by the wind, I sensed that the direction of the wind had shifted. Through the message, I came to know that a new world had opened. As I drove along the tree-lined avenue near Jindaiji Temple, the green leaves shone brilliantly, leaping into my eyes, into my heart, and the radiance of their green was shining within me. The color of the tree trunks also gleamed, and I was deeply moved, to the point that my soul trembled with the exquisitely harmonious beauty created by the contrast in color between the trunks and the green leaves. I am struck with admiration for the beauty of life in nature. As human beings are united with the life of nature, I was once again taught today by the green of the trees, the flowers, and the wind that we too can live beautifully.
Today, a gift arrived from the Syrian Ambassador. As I unwrapped the parcel, adorned in a garment as beautiful as a peony, a floral fragrance arose, and my heart leapt with delight. Inside appeared a traditional Syrian mosaic wooden box—something I dearly love. Opening it, I found, to my great joy, that it contained baklava, one of my favorite sweets. I love baklava so much that whenever I visited Lebanon, it would always be delivered to my hotel as a gift. I even once went so far as to visit a baklava factory and seriously considered establishing one myself. The vivid sense of vitality and aroma of that time returned to me. The indescribable excitement I felt walking through the streets of Syria, where the air was filled with the fragrance of creativity, also revived. To destroy a beautiful land is not something human beings do. The exquisite taste of the baklava paired perfectly with the coffee roasted by Master Idaki Shin, melting in the mouth with extraordinary deliciousness. We can tell from the taste that the hearts of those who create such food are beautiful. This is also evident in their beautiful traditional crafts. Simply touching them enriches the heart, enveloping me in the fragrance of beautiful Syria. It was a truly joyful moment. I thought of exhibiting this remarkable traditional craft in my gallery located in the basement of our headquarters, so that many people might share this experience. To encounter a beautiful culture is to encounter a beautiful soul. Today, I felt a joyful sign that as we connect and communicate in our souls, we can create rich cultures and bring forth a new world.
Tomorrow, we will hold “A Day of Encounter.” Everything is moving toward the “Legends of Koguryo Rediscovered” to be held on May 13th. A historic moment will surely arrive.