The concept of a global village signals not only the advent of the Internet era but also the elimination of religious and cultural barriers. Buddhism found its followers in China, among other countries, and it successfully solidified its position as a leading religion. For instance, Journey to the West, one of the four major Chinese classical novels, involves a quest for getting a Buddhist scripture, reflecting how much impact Buddhism had on the Chinese. Today’s Chinese readers are finding fresh inspiration and hope from Flowers Blossom in the Mountain and May All Beings Be Happy, both of which are written by Beop Jeong, a muchrenowned Korean monk. Likewise, Seonjong (禪宗) leads one to the realm of enlightenment, where the wayward soul finds a path to truth.
21st Century Publishing House is a frontrunner in China’s children’s book market, producing youth-related titles, magazines, music albums, and videos. In particular, it stays ahead in children’s and youth literature, animation, and picture books. It publishes 1,500 titles per year, and has found an affiliated company called 21st Century Electronic Music Video Publication in 2003. The company’s sales of books amounted to 390 million yuan in 2008, emerging as the No.1 market player in the publishing category in question. 21st Century Publishing House has developed popular book brands such as Pipilu and Mysterious Hand while 100 titles it has published received various state and national book awards. Its magazines such as Story, Small Star, and Composition 100 Minutes have also gained recognition. 21st Century Publishing House aims to take the lead in the youth publication market of China by pursuing its corporate goals for the country, clients, and readers.
21st Century Publishing House cherishes cooperative exchanges with other publishing companies outside of China. The company maintains close partnerships with foreign publishers including Korea’s Mirae-n Culture Group, Germany’s Theinemann Verlag, and U.S.-based Random House. Under these partnerships, the company has imported some 600 foreign titles for Chinese readers. Its title on Chinese civilization has been published in Korea, while it also sells the Chinese translation of Treasure Hunting Series, licensed from a Korean partner.
The continued passion for quality books and the responsibility for Chinese readers have guided 21st Century Publishing House to import Korean children’s books in recent years. In particular, it has introduced books representing the spirit of Korean Buddhist practice, or suhaeng (修行). It published Beop Jeong’s Interesting Tales Told by Beop Jeong in 2007. This year, it has published Flowers Blossom in the Mountain and May All Beings Be Happy in a bid to offer Chinese readers a rare glimpse into the world of enlightenment.
Beop Jeong is one of a small group of practitioners who retreats from the mundane world in order to live in harmony with nature. He has lived in the deepest corners of a Korean mountain for years, rarely leaving his residence. His house does not have an address. He lives alone, but he lives with nature. The two recent books duly reflect Beop Jeong’s frugal life and unwavering spirit.
When I read May All Beings Be Happy for the first time, the most moving moment was not the end of reading but the entire reading session. Reading the book was like walking a long corridor with many windows. As I walked along, a new window opened up, introducing me to a whole new world. The process is a great pleasure, so the conclusion itself is not so important. The value of the book naturally reveals itself to readers; the key idea is the realization that every living thing should be happy.
Regardless of the era or the religion, many people have retreated to the mountains in pursuit of truth. One of the reasons is that nature is the most neutral place, free of desires. Famous mountains and rivers are traditionally associated with Bodhimanda. Sages and saints also urged the public to listen to the voice of nature. When Shakyamuni Buddha held out a flower to his listeners at Mount Grdhrakuta, he also urged the public to notice the true formless form in nature. As such, the author, a renowned Seon master, demonstrates a masterful stroke in his writings.
The author enjoys his solitude. He says, “The winter should be cold, the summer should be hot.” Artificial heating, in other words, is far removed from the natural cycle of nature. Under a lamplight, Beop Jeong reads and listens to the sound of wind, appreciating that he’s been given such a wonderful space. “I feel sorry for people who lead a busy life because I enjoy my simple life in the mountains,” he notes. People are worried about his solitary life, cut away from modern city life, but Beop Jeong opts to remain free. He observes, “I could enjoy the sound of streams flowing beneath the snow only because I am walking in the valley here.”
Beop Jeong cautions against the tendency to possess. People believe owning objects leads to a happy life, but the opposite is true, he says. In fact, such a materialistic mindset is the source of unhappiness. What is needed is not to possess more but to give up unnecessary things in life, while returning to the true and essential self. “Be satisfied with small things. Get one thing when it is needed. If you desire for two things instead of the original one, you eventually lose both of them,” he says.
Beop Jeong says that the ultimate goal of human beings is to obtain freedom. Spiritual freedom is particularly important. No material wealth can bring true happiness. He asks people to cut down on what they have, reducing their possessions to a minimum, in order to live by necessity instead of unbridled desires. This advice sounds fairly difficult to practice in life, but the core message is simpler than expected. In modern life, people definitely have more gadgets and products, while happiness remains elusive. The reason is that people fail to recognize the difference between what’s essential and what’s non-essential. Their desire to get more things eliminates a chance to enjoy a simpler, happier life.
A good book offers not only sentences but also all sorts of sensual experiences. Images and senses emerge when one reads Beop Jeong’s insightful writings. His essays evoke the meditative sound of streams and chirping of birds in the forest, inviting readers to join his solitude that resonates at a deeper level. At one point, he stands for an unwavering spirit that defies all the natural forces. Before one knows it, he changes into clouds that ride the natural rhythm of the sky. After all, seon (禪) sends a wave of resonance and insights, regardless of nationality and race. 21st Century Publishing House in China is currently strengthening its ties with other publishers and research centers in foreign countries in order to emerge as a leading publisher armed with a strong brand. It is also putting out quality titles, both Chinese and foreign, to meet the demand from readers, an effort illustrated by the recent publications of Flowers Blossom in the Mountain and May All Beings Be Happy.