Temple Stay

Justin and I did a one night temple stay at Beomosa temple. We wanted to experience Korean Buddhist life and learn about the Buddhist culture. The temple stay is away to achieve the kind of piece of mind that is so needed in this complicated and hectic modern world. Temple life teaches people how to achieve true happiness by breaking free of one's habits and attaining enlightenment. It was a really great experience that I will never forget. We arrived at 1:00pm on Saturday and when to bed at 9:00pm that evening to wake up at 3:00am on Sunday morning. Wow, that was rough. After the pre-dawn ceremony we made a necklace of 108 prayer beads. This was about 4:00 in the morning and I was barely awake. For each bead we had to stand up and do a complete bow. This entails getting on your knees bowing forward like a lion and then standing back up keeping your palms together. Justin and I both broke a sweat and were sore the next day. The prayer beads are reminders to Buddhists to devote themselves to follow in the steps of Buddha.

We had a Q&A session with the head monk. He was such a happy guy. He has been a monk for over 40 years. He said he knows a monk that has not slept in 10 years because he simply does not feel tired, he has reached enlightenment.

Breath taking views!

Meditating along the golden well. The temple's name comes from the legend that a golden fish from Nirvana played in the well. We enjoyed some tea while taking a rest.

Entrance to the temple! When entering the temple you should take each step in full awareness to help calm the distracted mind. Also, once inside the gate you should take great care to avoid inadvertently killing insects on the ground. 

At a temple, even a meal is not just a meal but a practice in total silence. This is the chant we had to say before we ate. The food is taken as medicine to get rid of the greed in the mind and to keep the physical being in order to achieve enlightenment.

Justin getting ready to indulge! Monk's are strict vegans so we consumed veggies and rice. 

The temple we slept in.

Part of the Yebul ceremony. This ceremony is held 3 times a day at pre- dawn (3:00am) , in the morning and evening. The ceremony is a way to clear your mind. 

Cleansing the Buddha.

Beomosa temple, located on the top of Kumjungsan Mountain. Beomosa was built in 678 AD.

Lantern's are still up from Buddha's Birthday, May 21st.

The monk that we spent the most of the stay with. He was the happiest and nicest person I have ever met. He had a smile on his face the entire time and seemed so at easy and peaceful. Before we left he said "If anything else, I hope this experience will be a seed of happiness in your life". That it will be, as every time I think of this monk it brings a smile to my face!