"Youthful Buddha: The Song of Wind, Lion, and Lotus" | Written by Go Mi-sook | Publisher: Bookdramang What comes to mind when you think of the Buddha? For most, it’s an image of a wise elder, embodying profound insights into life and offering deep philosophical teachings. Even Buddha statues reinforce this view—serene and contemplative, seemingly distant from youth. But is this depiction accurate? About five years ago, as I began studying Buddhist scriptures in depth, I realized just how deeply entrenched these misconceptions were. Discovering that Buddha attained enlightenment at 35 completely upended my assumptions. Buddha renounced his life at 29 and attained enlightenment at 35. Remarkably, his teachings remained consistent for 45 years. Isn’t it astonishing that the philosophy he established in his youth endured unchanged throughout his life? Then why have we long perceived his teachings as the wisdom of old age? The truth is, Buddha’s philosophy is a youthful philosop...