South Korean Buddhists mourn shooting victims

SEOUL – As a monk beat out a slow rhythm on a traditional wooden fish, South Korean Buddhists yesterday mourned the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre in the US at a memorial service that also remembered the South Korean shooter.

Some 300 people gathered at the Hwagyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul to ‘pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased at Virginia Tech’ – as a banner across a pagoda read – including Seung-Hui Cho, who killed himself after massacring 32 others. South Koreans have held memorial services and candlelight vigils since Monday’s shooting, which has led to a sense of collective guilt among some.Cho was born and raised in South Korea until 1992 when he left for the United States with his family at age 8.One of the 33 lanterns hung around the pagoda in memory of the deceased was dedicated to the 23-year-old gunman with a tag that read, “The victim who passed away after living a lonely life in isolation.”According to various accounts, Cho was a loner who had little contact with others.His relatives have said that even as a child Cho spoke little, raising family members’ concerns.”People are beginning to understand that a lot of young people are extremely lonely to the point of really having mental problems,” said monk Daebong from the US, one of some 40 foreign monks – residing in South Korea – who were also at the Sunday service.”We have to get better at recognising this disassociation from society that many young people are feeling …and address it,” said Daebong, who uses only one name like most Korean Buddhist nuns and monks.The service began with the striking of a large bell in the temple yard 33 times in commemoration of the victims and the shooter.Inside a prayer hall, people laid flowers at a table with framed pictures of the deceased.Later, people sat in rows on the floor of a prayer hall, chanting prayers as a monk beat the wooden fish – a percussion instrument used by Buddhist disciples, mostly in Asia.Nampa-APSouth Koreans have held memorial services and candlelight vigils since Monday’s shooting, which has led to a sense of collective guilt among some.Cho was born and raised in South Korea until 1992 when he left for the United States with his family at age 8.One of the 33 lanterns hung around the pagoda in memory of the deceased was dedicated to the 23-year-old gunman with a tag that read, “The victim who passed away after living a lonely life in isolation.”According to various accounts, Cho was a loner who had little contact with others.His relatives have said that even as a child Cho spoke little, raising family members’ concerns.”People are beginning to understand that a lot of young people are extremely lonely to the point of really having mental problems,” said monk Daebong from the US, one of some 40 foreign monks – residing in South Korea – who were also at the Sunday service.”We have to get better at recognising this disassociation from society that many young people are feeling …and address it,” said Daebong, who uses only one name like most Korean Buddhist nuns and monks.The service began with the striking of a large bell in the temple yard 33 times in commemoration of the victims and the shooter.Inside a prayer hall, people laid flowers at a table with framed pictures of the deceased.Later, people sat in rows on the floor of a prayer hall, chanting prayers as a monk beat the wooden fish – a percussion instrument used by Buddhist disciples, mostly in Asia.Nampa-AP