๐ The Power of Living a Principled Life
At Santa Clara Meditation, we often explore what it means to live a truly successful and meaningful life. True success isn’t always measured by external wealth or fleeting fame; often, it is defined by the unwavering values we hold in our hearts.
A perfect example of this is the story of South Korean actor Kim Bo-sung. He dedicated his entire life to a single, unyielding principle: “Euri” (์๋ฆฌ – Loyalty). What started as a personal conviction eventually sparked a nationwide phenomenon, reminding us all of the power of staying true to our core values.
Let’s dive into the “Euri” craze and explore how a life lived with unwavering principles leads to ultimate success. ๐ฑ
๐ฅ The “Euri” Phenomenon
‘Loyalty (Euri) to our bodies!’ ‘Hang-a-euri (Traditional pot) holding the taste of tradition!’ ‘Sin-to-bu-euri (Local produce for local bodies)!’
Appearing like a 70s action movie star and passionately shouting “Euri!”โthis hilariously bizarre commercial made the entire nation burst into laughter. Premiering in May 2014, the Vilac Sikhye “Euri” commercial took South Korea by storm, sparking an unprecedented “Euri Craze.”
The viral trend birthed endless puns and parodies: Geu-eu-ri-seu-do (Christ)! Dokdo is eu-ri (our) land! Kakao Sto-eu-ri, Neogu-eu-ri, MP3 (Thre-eu-ri)… The “Euri” marketing wave was massive, reportedly boosting the beverage’s sales by 65%. Even Hollywood star Tom Cruise shouted “Euri!” at a promotional event, cementing it as a massive hot topic. ๐ฌ
But why did this “Euri” craze resonate so deeply?
โค๏ธ Representing the Heart of Our Times
Many analysts suggested that the craze represented the heart of our timesโa society deeply yearning for true, uncalculated loyalty.
“I am so encouraged, tearfully grateful, and I resolve to live with loyalty for the rest of my life with an even greater sense of mission and responsibility, as my sincerity seems to have been genuinely conveyed.” โ Kim Bo-sung (YTN Interview, 2014)
Kim Bo-sung, who welcomed a second heyday thanks to this craze, wasn’t just playing a character. Since his debut, he has consistently upheld and shouted for loyalty. It was never a gimmick; it was a value he genuinely wanted to protect to the bitter end. If it hadn’t been for his authentic, lifelong dedication to this principle, the commercial would never have struck such a chord.
๐ง The 3 Stages of Loyalty: Kim Bo-sung’s Philosophy
During a surprise appearance on the popular variety show Infinite Challenge, Kim Bo-sung passionately explained his deep philosophy on loyalty. Far from just variety show banter, his theory of loyalty carried real sincerity, refined after years of deep contemplation.
He breaks loyalty down into three profound stages:
- ๐ค Stage 1: Friendship (Camaraderie) This relates to the proverb: ‘When eating and drinking, you have a thousand brothers; in times of crisis, you don’t have a single friend.’ This is the baseline loyalty of friendship and standing by those close to you.
- โ๏ธ Stage 2: Justice No matter how close you are to someone, covering up illegal acts or going against the public good is not true loyalty. True loyalty only begins to shine when there is a sense of justice in your heart.
- ๐ Stage 3: Harmony and Sharing (Altruism) When that sense of justice takes root, altruism naturally follows. This leads to the highest stage of loyalty: a loyalty of sharing and harmony that genuinely considers and cares for others.
“Ultimately, loyalty is love. Lastly, Dae-do-mu-mun (The great path has no gate). If you walk the righteous path, nothing can stand in your way. It means do not resort to Machiavellian tricks. The greatest move in this world is Mu-su (no calculation). You just keep moving forward without overthinking. Just with loyalty.”
๐ก๏ธ ‘Nevertheless’, Loyalty
Kim Bo-sung became an action star because he wanted to play heroes who speak for and protect the weak. He cemented his status as the “icon of loyalty” through hit 90s movies like Two Cops.
However, his life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Emphasizing only ‘loyalty’ became a stumbling block in his acting career, and his singular persona was sometimes met with public disfavor. He faced near-death experiences, suffered significant financial losses, and endured unfair treatmentโall while trying to uphold his loyalty.
Nevertheless, he never abandoned his core value.
Through difficult times, he pondered the purpose of life, concluding that true happiness equates to a “life that keeps loyalty.”
“A man of loyalty is bound to be lonely and is bound to face unfair situations… You can fail many times, repeatedly. But if you give up, it’s over. It means absolutely never give up. In that sense, if I offer help out of loyalty, that person can find hope again.”
โจ Living a Valuable Life with Principles
Through the “Euri” commercial, the value of loyalty that he had dedicated his entire life to protecting finally shone brightly. His philosophy, which may have seemed eccentric at first, became endearing to the public. As offers poured in, he refused to let loyalty be merely exploited commercially, agonizing over projects that would highlight true sincerity.
Kim Bo-sung believes that if loyalty takes root in our hearts, a miracle will happen in our society: a shift from an era of materialism to an era of spirituality, where goodhearted people are recognized. ๐๏ธ
“How you live is more important than what you become. Not everyone can succeed in the business of life. However, if you live a valuable life with principles, that is a successful life, and in this respect, we can all live a successful life.” โ The late President Kim Dae-jung
Even if it doesn’t happen immediately, people who stick to their life principles and live valuably are often recognized over timeโjust like Kim Bo-sung. And even if no one ever recognizes your efforts, if you can live your life consistently protecting your core values, that alone makes your life a successful one.
Let’s wrap-up (Ma-mu-euri!) with Kim Bo-sung’s powerful reminder: “Dae-do-mu-mun. If you walk the righteous path, nothing can stand in your way. The greatest move in this world is no calculation. You just keep moving forward. Just with loyalty.” ๐
If you want to discover your own unwavering inner principles and cultivate a mind of true altruism and harmony, join us at Santa Clara Meditation today. ๐๐ The Power of Living a Principled Life
At Santa Clara Meditation, we often explore what it means to live a truly successful and meaningful life. True success isn’t always measured by external wealth or fleeting fame; often, it is defined by the unwavering values we hold in our hearts.
A perfect example of this is the story of South Korean actor Kim Bo-sung. He dedicated his entire life to a single, unyielding principle: “Euri” (์๋ฆฌ – Loyalty). What started as a personal conviction eventually sparked a nationwide phenomenon, reminding us all of the power of staying true to our core values.
Let’s dive into the “Euri” craze and explore how a life lived with unwavering principles leads to ultimate success. ๐ฑ
๐ฅ The “Euri” Phenomenon
‘Loyalty (Euri) to our bodies!’ ‘Hang-a-euri (Traditional pot) holding the taste of tradition!’ ‘Sin-to-bu-euri (Local produce for local bodies)!’
Appearing like a 70s action movie star and passionately shouting “Euri!”โthis hilariously bizarre commercial made the entire nation burst into laughter. Premiering in May 2014, the Vilac Sikhye “Euri” commercial took South Korea by storm, sparking an unprecedented “Euri Craze.”
The viral trend birthed endless puns and parodies: Geu-eu-ri-seu-do (Christ)! Dokdo is eu-ri (our) land! Kakao Sto-eu-ri, Neogu-eu-ri, MP3 (Thre-eu-ri)… The “Euri” marketing wave was massive, reportedly boosting the beverage’s sales by 65%. Even Hollywood star Tom Cruise shouted “Euri!” at a promotional event, cementing it as a massive hot topic. ๐ฌ
But why did this “Euri” craze resonate so deeply?
โค๏ธ Representing the Heart of Our Times
Many analysts suggested that the craze represented the heart of our timesโa society deeply yearning for true, uncalculated loyalty.
“I am so encouraged, tearfully grateful, and I resolve to live with loyalty for the rest of my life with an even greater sense of mission and responsibility, as my sincerity seems to have been genuinely conveyed.” โ Kim Bo-sung (YTN Interview, 2014)
Kim Bo-sung, who welcomed a second heyday thanks to this craze, wasn’t just playing a character. Since his debut, he has consistently upheld and shouted for loyalty. It was never a gimmick; it was a value he genuinely wanted to protect to the bitter end. If it hadn’t been for his authentic, lifelong dedication to this principle, the commercial would never have struck such a chord.
๐ง The 3 Stages of Loyalty: Kim Bo-sung’s Philosophy
During a surprise appearance on the popular variety show Infinite Challenge, Kim Bo-sung passionately explained his deep philosophy on loyalty. Far from just variety show banter, his theory of loyalty carried real sincerity, refined after years of deep contemplation.
He breaks loyalty down into three profound stages:
- ๐ค Stage 1: Friendship (Camaraderie) This relates to the proverb: ‘When eating and drinking, you have a thousand brothers; in times of crisis, you don’t have a single friend.’ This is the baseline loyalty of friendship and standing by those close to you.
- โ๏ธ Stage 2: Justice No matter how close you are to someone, covering up illegal acts or going against the public good is not true loyalty. True loyalty only begins to shine when there is a sense of justice in your heart.
- ๐ Stage 3: Harmony and Sharing (Altruism) When that sense of justice takes root, altruism naturally follows. This leads to the highest stage of loyalty: a loyalty of sharing and harmony that genuinely considers and cares for others.
“Ultimately, loyalty is love. Lastly, Dae-do-mu-mun (The great path has no gate). If you walk the righteous path, nothing can stand in your way. It means do not resort to Machiavellian tricks. The greatest move in this world is Mu-su (no calculation). You just keep moving forward without overthinking. Just with loyalty.”
๐ก๏ธ ‘Nevertheless’, Loyalty
Kim Bo-sung became an action star because he wanted to play heroes who speak for and protect the weak. He cemented his status as the “icon of loyalty” through hit 90s movies like Two Cops.
However, his life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Emphasizing only ‘loyalty’ became a stumbling block in his acting career, and his singular persona was sometimes met with public disfavor. He faced near-death experiences, suffered significant financial losses, and endured unfair treatmentโall while trying to uphold his loyalty.
Nevertheless, he never abandoned his core value.
Through difficult times, he pondered the purpose of life, concluding that true happiness equates to a “life that keeps loyalty.”
“A man of loyalty is bound to be lonely and is bound to face unfair situations… You can fail many times, repeatedly. But if you give up, it’s over. It means absolutely never give up. In that sense, if I offer help out of loyalty, that person can find hope again.”
โจ Living a Valuable Life with Principles
Through the “Euri” commercial, the value of loyalty that he had dedicated his entire life to protecting finally shone brightly. His philosophy, which may have seemed eccentric at first, became endearing to the public. As offers poured in, he refused to let loyalty be merely exploited commercially, agonizing over projects that would highlight true sincerity.
Kim Bo-sung believes that if loyalty takes root in our hearts, a miracle will happen in our society: a shift from an era of materialism to an era of spirituality, where goodhearted people are recognized. ๐๏ธ
“How you live is more important than what you become. Not everyone can succeed in the business of life. However, if you live a valuable life with principles, that is a successful life, and in this respect, we can all live a successful life.” โ The late President Kim Dae-jung
Even if it doesn’t happen immediately, people who stick to their life principles and live valuably are often recognized over timeโjust like Kim Bo-sung. And even if no one ever recognizes your efforts, if you can live your life consistently protecting your core values, that alone makes your life a successful one.
Let’s wrap-up (Ma-mu-euri!) with Kim Bo-sung’s powerful reminder: “Dae-do-mu-mun. If you walk the righteous path, nothing can stand in your way. The greatest move in this world is no calculation. You just keep moving forward. Just with loyalty.” ๐
If you want to discover your own unwavering inner principles and cultivate a mind of true altruism and harmony, join us at Santa Clara Meditation today. ๐
