[Opinion] Three-steps and One-bow

“Three-steps and one-bow” is one of the ascetic exercises which clear oneself of sin to become enlightened and is used to swear to help every life through the asceticism of bowing at every three steps. Considering how hard it is just to walk, we cannot imagine how hard it is. The hardship of the ascetic exercise is not easy to imagine, considering there is even a “one-step and one-bow.”

The core of “three-steps and one-bow” is “the mind to humble itself.” The mind, which humbles itself, does so in the interest of others and makes the “three-steps and one-bow” possible specifically for the mind. Sung-chul, a Buddhist priest, regarding “the mind to humble itself,” said, “To give good and honorable things to others and to have shameful things for myself is the behavior of a priest.” He also said, “Sit and stand on the lower place, exercise at the side, and do not precede others. Always do laborious and humble works.”

Last spring, Su-kyung, a Buddhist priest, performed the “three-steps and one-bow” for 65 days from Buan, Chunbuk, to Seoul City Hall, which is more than 320 km, in order to save the Saemangeum tidal flat. “Without laying our problems at another’s door, confess one’s sin, such as greed, anger and foolishness, at every step and humble oneself every three steps to make one’s mind of vacating oneself.”

Having the general election ahead, “three-steps and one-bow” is frequent. Following the “three-steps and one-bow” of Chu Mi-ae, chairman of a committee of the Millennium Democratic Party, for apology about the impeachment at Kwanju, nine wives of candidates from Daegu for the Uri Party performed the “three-steps and one-bow” at a department store from downtown to the Memorial Park for the movement in compensation for national bond. The justification was to protect from the complete destruction of the Grand National Party in the general election.

How much does Sung-chul’s mind, which asks people to humble themselves, exist in this kind of “three-steps and one-bow?” We cannot blame their intention to understand the mind of the people and break the current political composition divided by region. However, we cannot deny its selfishness because it is for the vote after all. The Buddhist Association is concerned about the distortion of “three-steps and one-bow.” We are in the mood to keep repeating, “What is that?” the famous topic in the Buddhism.

Lee Jae-ho, Editorial writer leejaeho@donga.com