A remarkable narrative of spiritual devotion converging with athletic triumph has unfolded as a South Korean Buddhist monk's long-standing patronage of youth snowboarding has culminated in Olympic glory. For over two decades, Venerable Hosan, the revered head monk of Bongsunsa Temple and an avid snowboarder himself, championed the sport by establishing a pivotal youth competition. This initiative has now borne spectacular fruit, with three of its former participants achieving Olympic medals in Italy, marking a historic moment for South Korea with its inaugural gold in snowboarding.
Venerable Hosan's journey into the world of snowboarding began in 1995 when he was invited to a ski resort for a safety prayer. There, he encountered young riders whose passion for the freedom and dynamic movement of snowboarding resonated with his understanding of Buddhist principles of liberation. Recognizing the financial hurdles faced by many young athletes, who often had to balance training with part-time jobs, the monk initiated the Dharma Snowboard Competition. This event offered crucial prize money and became a vital platform for budding snowboarders, drawing support from his Buddhist colleagues.
The impact of Venerable Hosan's vision is evident in the achievements of the "Dharma Kids." Choi Ga-on, Kim Sang-kyum, and Yu Seung-eun, all alumni of his competition, are the recent Olympic medallists. Furthermore, Lee Sang-ho, who secured South Korea's first Olympic snowboarding medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, also honed his skills through the monk's event. This lineage of success underscores the competition's role in nurturing national talent in a sport that initially struggled to gain widespread popularity in South Korea.
Lee Kyung-min, deputy manager of Bongsunsa Temple, expressed the profound joy and pride within the Buddhist community in witnessing these young athletes, whom they have supported since childhood, achieve such high levels of recognition. He highlighted the significance of their faith in helping these individuals pursue dreams that are often challenging to realize in contemporary society. The medallists, particularly Kim and Yu, frequently return to the temple when not training, engaging in Buddhist practices such as meditation and the 108 prostrations, a ritual of deep bows.
The story serves as a poignant illustration of perseverance and belief, likened by Lee Kyung-min to the Buddhist saying, "the lotus blooms from the mud." In a sport once marginalized and overlooked, the dedicated efforts of Venerable Hosan and the blossoming talents of his "Dharma Kids" have collectively brought forth a beautiful and unexpected triumph, proving that with unwavering support, even the most improbable dreams can be realized, shining brightly on the global stage.
