Prologue: A Revelation in a Dream
A small studio apartment in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. At 3 a.m., writer Minjun woke up in a cold sweat. It was that dream again. The strange dreams that had been recurring for the past few months. He approached the small desk next to his bed and opened his notebook.
"It's the same scene today. I lead thousands of people on a huge mountain... But why am I feeling so anxious and sad?"
Minjun was a thirty-five-year-old unknown writer. Five years had passed since his literary debut, yet he had yet to produce a work that had garnered widespread attention. He had always had a deep interest in history and mythology, especially ancient Korean history. But recently, strange things had been happening in his life.
Every time he did something, a wave of inexplicable emotions would surge through him. Looking at the ocean, he would be overcome with intense anxiety and guilt, and climbing a high mountain would bring a strange sense of longing mixed with fear. Strangest of all, the complex emotions he felt whenever he saw his mother were a mixture of deep love and respect, along with an inexplicable sense of regret and gratitude.
"Could this really be related to memories from a past life?"
Minjun was skeptical, but recently he had begun to seriously consider the concepts of past lives and karma. He was interested in both Buddhism and Christianity, and had been trying to find commonalities between the two religions. And that night, he had a dream that would change his life forever.
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Chapter 1: The Buddha's Revelation
In his dream, Minjun sat beneath a giant Bodhi tree. Golden light poured down from all directions, and within that light, a being emerged. It was the Buddha, with a compassionate smile.
"Minjun," the Buddha's voice was warm and authoritative. "I will tell you about the confusion you've been experiencing recently."
Minjun knew he was dreaming, even in his dream. But this was no ordinary dream. Everything was so vivid, and the Buddha's presence was overwhelming.
"Are you... really the Buddha?" Minjun asked in a trembling voice.
The Buddha nodded. "Those emotions you feel, the happiness, anxiety, and discomfort that surge in certain situations... they all stem from memories of a past life. You guessed right. That is the most accurate way to uncover those memories."
Minjun's heart began to beat rapidly. "So... does that mean I really have a past life?" "That's right." The Buddha's gaze deepened. "But Minjun, your past lives were not just one. The karma you've accumulated is long and complex, and its consequences continue to this day."
The Buddha raised his hand and pointed into the air. Images began to unfold before Minjun's eyes, like a movie screen.
"Your first past life... you were Geobalhwan."
In the images, Minjun saw himself standing in a different form. A man with a massive physique and charismatic eyes. He stood atop a massive mountain, looking down on a crowd of thousands.
"Born as the illegitimate son of An Pa-gyeon, the last Hwanin of Hwan-guk, you received three heavenly seals from your father: a bronze mirror, a bronze bell, and a bronze sword. They symbolized the authority and power of Heaven to rule."
The images continued. Young Geobalhwan knelt before his father, Hwanin. In Hwanin's hands, he held three objects radiating a mystical glow.
"My son," Hwanin's voice said. "Now you must descend to Earth and usher in a new era. Spread the ideals of Hwanguk, the spirit of Hongik Ingan and Jaese Ihwa, on Earth. Benefit humanity widely, govern the world with truth, and enlighten it."
"Yes, Father." The young Geobalhwan's voice was firm.
"Take Woosa, Unsa, and Pungbaek with you and three thousand servants. Taebaek Mountain, that is where you will establish a new civilization."
The Buddha's voice was heard again. "You descended to Baekdu Mountain on Earth and founded the Kingdom of Baedal. It was a great moment, bringing the ideals of light to a new land in the East and ushering in a new era."
In the image, Geobalhwan descended the massive mountain with a group of three thousand people. The majestic Baekdu Mountain unfolded before his eyes, and at its foot, a city called Shinsi began to be built. "You were a great king. Leading the Poongbaek, the Rain Master, and the Cloud Master, you governed over 360 aspects of the human world, including grain, life, disease, punishment, and good and evil. Baedal Kingdom prospered, and its territory extended beyond Northeast Asia to Siberia, Sumer, and Tibet."
Minjun held his breath as he watched the video. It wasn't just a simple image. He could sense Geobalhwan's emotions within it: his love for his people, his yearning for just rule, and his sense of duty inherited from his father.
" Baedal Kingdom interacted with the world, its industry and culture developed, and gender equality existed. It was an advanced civilization, unimaginable at the time."
The video unfolded. The people looked happy, the streets were vibrant, and art and scholarship flourished. Minjun felt a pang of emotion fill his heart.
"But..." The Buddha's voice grew heavy. "Your story doesn't end there. The nomadic culture of Baedalguk combined with the agricultural culture of the Gomjok, leading to Gojoseon. Dangun Wanggeom inherited the ideal of Hongik Ingan, and the Tiger Tribe, unable to endure the 100-day cave retreat, was absorbed into political power, ushering in a second era of peace."
The video quickly shifted. Gojoseon's prosperity, and then...
"But a resistance force emerged in China. Emperor Chiyou of Gojoseon brutally suppressed them. With utter cruelty."
The horrors of war unfolded within the video. Minjun wanted to turn his head away, but he couldn't take his eyes off.
"A nation that rises from nothing falls from nothing. This is the law of karma. Ultimately, Gojoseon was destroyed by Chinese forces, and the Chinese who destroyed Gojoseon suffered constant invasions from foreign powers as retribution for their karma. From the Mongol Empire, from the Jurchen people..."
The Buddha paused for a moment. "And your descendants, the Korean people, were also invaded by countless foreign powers. Why would that be?"
Minjun couldn't answer. Only confusion and sadness swirled in his mind.
"It has to do with your other past life." The Buddha's voice deepened. "Before becoming Geobalhwan, you were someone else. And then you... committed irreversible evil karma."
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Chapter 2: The Truth About Atlantis
The image changed again. This time, an island was visible in the middle of a vast ocean. No, it was too vast to be called an island. It was a continent.
"Atlantis..." Minjun muttered.
"Yes." The Buddha nodded. "The legendary continent described by Plato. But it wasn't just a legend. Atlantis was real, a powerful maritime empire that ruled over the entire Earth."
The image of Atlantis unfolded vividly in the image. A vast city laid out in concentric circles, palaces adorned with gold and silver, temples towering high into the sky. And most astonishing of all was their technological prowess.
"They achieved a civilization unattainable even with modern Earth technology. They manipulated a mysterious metal called orichalcum, masterfully manipulated energy, and even controlled gravity."
Minjun held his breath and stared at the screen. The Atlanteans seemed happy. They enjoyed a prosperous life, advanced art and scholarship, and beautiful architecture...
"But..." Buddha's voice darkened. "Their entire civilization and culture was steeped in arrogance and greed."
The image changed. Now the dark side of Atlantis began to reveal itself. Atlas, the eldest of ten princes born from the king and the nobles' promiscuous human woman, Cleito, ruled. Initially, his rule was just and wise, but as generations passed, the divine blood diluted and human greed grew.
In the image, the Atlantean Empire conquered more and more lands. Their army was formidable, and harsh punishments were meted out to those who resisted.
"Finally, the judgment of the gods fell upon those who had rejected the will of Heaven. Heavenly Father and Uncle Adibuddha consulted and decided: Atlantis must be destroyed."
The Buddha paused for a moment before continuing. "However, the gods did not intervene directly. Instead, they gave a revelation to one of your most fervent followers."
Minjun's heart began to beat rapidly. He could already guess what was about to be said.
"The revelation was given to Hwanin, the king of Hwan-guk, to conquer the Earth. And Hwanin sent your greatest general to Earth."
The image changed. This time, space was visible. And a massive fleet streaked across it. No, calling it a fleet was too unfamiliar. They were spaceships, seemingly made of light, transcending reality.
"The general who led that fleet..." Buddha looked at Minjun. "It was you."
Minjun felt a thrill run through his body.
"You came to Earth as the general of Hwanguk. And you joined forces with the Earthlings of Northeast Asia to prepare for a battle against the Atlantean Empire."
The image showed a young general. His eyes were determined, filled with faith in God and Adibuddha.
"The Atlantean Empire's military was powerful. The resources and troops they could muster far surpassed your allied forces. But you had the protection of Heaven, and you possessed formidable weapons airlifted from across the galaxy. Above all, there was deep trust and faith in God and Adibuddha."
Scenes of war unfolded. It was a battle of unimaginable scale. Light and energy clashed in the sky, sea, and land, the earth split open, and the seas boiled.
"The war was fierce. Countless lives were lost: your men, the Earthlings who fought alongside you, and the warriors from the stars... But in the end, you were victorious."
The video showed the Atlantean palace collapsing. The Allied forces cheered, and the young general knelt and offered a prayer of gratitude to the heavens.
"But..." The Buddha's voice grew cold. "From that very moment, you began to commit irreversible evil deeds."
Chapter 3: The Sins Committed
The video continued. This time, it was so horrific that Minjun wanted to close his eyes.
"In the war, you lost countless men. Warriors who came from the stars with you, Earthlings who believed in you and followed you... They gave their lives for you, to fulfill Heaven's will."
In the video, the young general knelt before the bodies of his fallen men. His face was a mixture of deep sorrow and anger.
"You fell into great sorrow. And that sorrow and anger... turned into a desire for revenge."
The Buddha's voice was filled with sorrow. "Minjun, what you are about to see will be very painful. But you must see it. It is your karma, the cause of all the suffering you have endured thus far."
Minjun nodded. His entire body trembled, but he opened his eyes and stared at the screen.
"You... gave the order." The Buddha's voice trembled. "The king of the Atlantean Empire, the women of the nobles, prominent cultural figures, and beautiful female citizens... you ordered the soldiers to rape them."
Gruesome scenes unfolded in the video. Minjun felt sick, but continued to watch.
"That wasn't all. You ordered the murder of many citizens of the Atlantean Empire. And you enslaved the rest, forcing them to endure extreme labor."
The video continued. Massacre, destruction, torture...
"And finally..." The Buddha's voice deepened. "You blew up every island in the Atlantean Empire with an unimaginable weapon airlifted across the galaxy. The entire continent sank beneath the sea. In a single day and night."
Gigantic explosions erupted in the video. The land split open, the seas boiled, the sky burned. And Atlantis... was gone.
"But that wasn't the end," the Buddha continued. "You aggressively pursued the task of erasing all traces of the Atlantean Empire from history. Their culture, their language, their very existence... You attempted to wipe them from history."
Minjun began to weep. It was a dream, but the emotion was all too real.
"And the most horrific thing..." Buddha's voice trembled. "You remained arrogant despite all your evil deeds."
In the vision, the young general stood before his soldiers. His voice was heard.
"We did nothing wrong! We simply followed the instructions of God and Adibuddha! Atlantis was filled with arrogance and greed, and they defied the will of the gods! We are merely instruments of heaven!"
He continued to offer sacrifices to the heavens, rationalizing his actions. And surprisingly, his words resonated with the people. People across the globe hailed him as a hero, and Atlantis was remembered as an evil empire. "You distorted the truth. It's true that Atlantis was arrogant, but your revenge wasn't justice. It was pure evil. Yet, you disguised it as the will of heaven."
The Buddha sighed deeply. "Minjun, this is the karma you inflicted. And this karma has tormented you, your descendants, and the souls of the Atlanteans you massacred for thousands of years."