I found this was the most interesting part of the temple stay and I learned a lot from the monk. Templestay is a cultural programme unique to South Korea. Temple Stay experience in South Korea | Medical Avenue This includes temples in major cities such as Seoul and Busan. Sometimes events happen in South Korea that makes being at Golgulsa Temple even more special, such as the Buddhas birthday. Here are some other great articles that you might want to read about travelling in Korea. Temples for Foreigners (Seoul) [Bongeunsa] Seoul Address : Gangnam-gu Seoul 135-090 Korea73, Samseong-dong Tel : +82-2-3218-4826, 4846 / E-mail : bongeunsa@templestay.com The Practicing Temple for the Revival of Korean Buddhism. Templestay Korea is a popular cultural program centred on brief, meditative retreats at Buddhist Temples. Temple stay programs take place all across the nation, designed to combine the beauty of the Korean countryside with . This means visitors should refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol while doing their temple stay. Female and male are both separate and you stay either in bunk beds or Korean style on the floor with bedding. It was previously known as Bulgyo Geumgang Yeong Gwan, but in 1984 the Buddhist monk Jeog Un named the martial art Sunmudo. Book here Golgulsa Weekend Templestay, You can stay at Golgulsa Temple all year round, which means you can come to the temple to relax and breathe away from the cities. Varieties of kimchi, fermented radishes, chestnut stew, crispy greens, marinated tofu, mushroom fritters are just a few examples of popular Korean temple food dishes. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some temples offer all three types, while others might only offer one. You can spend 1 or 2 days here looking at the sights, shopping or eating. They also have huge hats for you to use if you didnt bring a hat in the summer. This website is very helpful and will show you where you can do various temple stay experiences across Korea. It was great for us to meet lots of new people, however, it meant that we were split into two groups (English speaking and Korean speaking)! The capital city of South Korea is filled with markets, trendy shops and more! Temple Stay in Korea: Everything You Need to Know, What to bring for your Temple Stay in Korea, Comfortable Outdoor Shoes or Hiking Boots. There are many Buddhist temples over the country that allow guests to stay overnight and join in with meditation or other activities. Grounded in ancient Confucianism, yet one of the most digitally-connected countries in the world, Korea offers a dynamic cultural mix of long-standing tradition and modern . SafetyWingis a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to cover you when you travel away from home. The Yebul ceremony takes place twice a day. I went to sleep straight away because there was an early start planned for the next day. I wanted to experience Korea away from the hustle and bustle of city life. For example, you can choose by region or by theme. These are offered to foreigners to introduce them to the Korean culture and sometimes used to 'spend the surplus the temple made the previous calendar year'. During an overnight temple stay, you can spend the night at the temple and take part in ceremonies that tourists would not normally be able to witness. You will also be given your room for the night. No. Temple Stay - Wikipedia It's one of the best Templestays in South Korea and you can experience Sunmudo, archery, the practice of 108 prostrations and meditation. No, you are free to choose whether or not you want to join the various programs. And after the meal, each participant is expected to clean their own bowl and chopsticks. We practised balancing, running, climbing a rope, jumping through tyres and much more! Men and women are usually bunked separately, often with 2-3 people in a basic room. Furthermore, you can enjoy cultural activities, including lotus lantern walks and prayer bead making. This is a typical morning at a Korean temple stay. Meditation activites are often seated, sometimes in the temple grounds or outside at a beautiful natural spot. You spend days, months and weeks here staying at the temple with monks, but you only need one night to enjoy Golgulsa Templestay. Mountain monasteries are much, much colder than you might expect especially at night. It was amazing to explore somewhere that wasnt on our South Korea itinerary, Gampo Beach was full of campers! You wont feel uncomfortable during this wonderful experience. This is an impressive amount considering the countrys relatively compact size. I was in a group with about 20 Korean people and 3 foreigners, the organizers did tell me that sometimes it would be about 20 foreigns and 3 Korean people, it really depends on the . Best Templestay Programs in Seoul, South Korea If youre looking for fun and unique things to do in Fayetteville, North Carolina, start with these 11 places. Promotion and support of temple stay programs began as a means of supporting foreigners who visited Korea during the Korea-Japan World-cup games in 2002. However, the food served at a temple stay is world renowned even sought after by Michelin starred chefs. Every temple stay includes the act of prostrating, or bowing. To be expected, there is a Temple etiquette to be followed during your stay and you will be shown a short video upon arrival detailing this. Find out more about summer in Korea with my list of summer activities to enjoy in Korea. Your feet crunch in the dark, making their way up to the, Megan Eaves is Lonely Planet's North Asia Destination Editor. The spaces did not sell out, however, your spot needs to be booked online. The bows are completed by first bending your knees, raising your hands to your chest in a prayer position, lowering yourself to the floor (a mat is provided), touching your forehead to the floor, and then repeating. Amy was given a bed in a 6-bed female dorm with a group of British girls and Dan was sharing a room with two Korean guys. When I heard about Koreas Templestay program I was instantly intrigued.Buddhist temples are dotted everywhere across Asia. Typical programs include a combination of a temple tour, meditation (cham-seon), tea ceremony and interview with a monk (da-seon), monastic meals with the monks (balwoogongyang), Buddhist chanting ceremonies (yebool), and various other cultural experiences. Its one of the best Templestays in South Korea and you can experience Sunmudo, archery, the practice of 108 prostrations and meditation. Temple Exchange: Korea. Meanwhile, other temples permit you to stay for several weeks, or even months at a time. By this time we were all hungry and went for lunch with the monks again. You can use your phone during certain times, but it is advised that you dont. Usually running during the weekends, this temple stay allows you to stay overnight at the temple and join in activities not open to regular visitors. The program was accepting of all religions, and belief systems. The beautiful lakes and hiking trails dotted around the temple grounds were an added bonus and a great opportunity for self-reflection. Buddhist food is a rich vegetarian cuisine that is among the most diverse and interesting on offer in Korea. 'Temple Stay Week for Foreigners' in Korea Nov. 5-30 Click for a full list of the available temple stay locations in Korea. Korean Buddhism is a 1700-year-old tradition and something that has largely shaped the culture of Korea today. While you can join a temple stay program with friends or a partner, only people of the same sex can stay in the same room. Zen retreat: a beginner's guide to Korean temple stays The Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation will hold a 'Temple Stay Program for Foreigners' to introduce Korean traditional culture to foreigners staying in Korea through October 30 at 13 different locations around the country. More than 100 temples around Korea offer official Templestay programs, many of which are conducted in English and welcome foreign participants. They also shared some more information about Sunmudo and the history of Golgulsa Temple. Our schedule started at 4 a.m. with a music performance by the monks, as shown in the picture above. Most Korean temples are actively involved in the production of their food; some even forage for food and grow local vegetables, meaning what you eat during a temple stay is extremely healthy and extremely delicious. Actually, when I first booked the program I was so thrilled at the prospect of staying in a temple that I hadnt looked at the itinerary! The program was launched in 2002, as something of a promotional idea around the time that Korea was hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Looks relaxing and the temples are beautiful, Your email address will not be published. I reckon those full prostrations have done wonders for my abs! Participants at a temple stay experience get to do this whilst also threading 108 beads to make a prayer bead bracelet. Monks generally sleep and rise with the sun, which results in an early night and very early pre-dawn morning. Take note that meals are served during certain hours and wont be available outside of those hours. As its buffet-style, you can simply come back up for more if youre still hungry. Happy browsing!. Others show her slumped over a chair . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! As we woke up at 5 am, we were super hungry and excited for lunch! I hope youve enjoyed this guide to doing a temple stay in Korea. The temple stay program is designed to welcome foreigners and therefore there are guides who can speak English, as well as translate anything the monks might say. What is a Temple Stay? A prostrationis a gesture used inBuddhistpractice to show reverence to theTriple Gem: the Buddha, his teachings, and the spiritual community. You have to arrive at Golgulsa Temple before 14:30 to check in and change into your temple clothes. This is definitely the best option for a temple stay in Korea, and will allow you the best variety of experiences. Thanks to the Netflix show The Chefs Table, Baekyangsa Temple where Nun Jeongkwan resides has become the most famous temple for Korean temple food. There are numerous Buddhist temples across the country that participate in this cultural program. A Foreigner's Guide to Templestay Korea. Prices for a temple stay in Korea vary depending on the type of temple stay you wish to join. We walked around the temple complex talking about the day and breathing the fresh nature air. The site allows you to search for temples by region and program type. LIKE THIS POST? The practice involved physically lowering our bodies and humbling our selfish egos before the universe in order to gain a deeper connection with the world. I lived in Korea teaching English and then working as an Asia Travel Correspondent. Check the calendar to see if there are any special dates coming up that you might want to visit. Temple food is strictly vegan and one should only grab as much food as one can eat never wasting any of the dishes. 10 Traditional Temple Stays In South Korea The monks and staff at the temple stay were very accommodating in my temple stay experiences. Perfect for those on a tight schedule or who want a quick introduction to Korean Buddhism. You dont need to speak Korean to book at most temples and it is sometimes possible to pay for the temple stay experience when you arrive. By practising Seon meditation you will be able to learn your true nature and discover inner peace. This was probably the most physical part of our stay Sunmudo Training. There are approximately 20,000 temples scattered throughout South Korea. Having the opportunity to sit down and discuss their chosen way of life with them is basically unheard of. Yes!! So we recommend you to stay one more day and make good memories in this special place. Mealtimes at Korean temples are charming, social affairs much like dining in Korean culture in general. Yes, even Buddhist temples have embraced new technologies in Korea! You can book a temple stay before you arrive in Korea. Since 2002, the Templestay program founded by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the prevailing school of Buddhism in Korea has allowed visitors to experience monastic life firsthand across 30 different temples. If you want to have a rejuvenating experience, then this is just the pick for you. It is expected youll take only what you need and always finish everything off from your bowl, down to the last grain of rice, but its perfectly acceptable to go for multiple rounds to fill up. Staying in Golgulsa Temple: The Best Templestay in Korea (2023) Many temple stays are conductedin English or through interpreters, and you'll find often the staff and monks at Korean temples speak excellent English. The idea is not to go hungry, but rather simply not to waste. Three of the best for tourists and those interested in seeing more about Korean Buddhism include Jogyesa Temple in Insadong, Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, and Geumsunsa Temple in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul. Accommodations at Korean temples are simple, clean and usually fairly modern. We missed the first part of this as we were still doing our Sunmudo training. Try to dress conservatively when you join a temple stay, therefore, dark colours and long sleeves are best. I hope you find what you are looking for and return for more. We checked the website regularly the month before and decided to book it 2 weeks before we wanted to arrive. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoLPC_OoIPLiW8JiX29JEjE5VTb2BohHBMyv7_7im5aXFA3A/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1. Come join us for a Korean Temple Stay at Beomeosa Buddhist Temple () located in a gorgeous mountain setting just outside of Busan, South Korea. I am happy to assist with any questions and queries you may have. I do lean towards Mahayana, so I had no problem with the program being from the Jogyesa Order (Seon). The programs cost 30,000 won for the overnight experience. Participants: Foreigners residing in Korea Submitted data: alien registration card(ex:university identity card or University certificate), etc. There was no pressure or expectation to come to any sort of conclusions or share any specific views. 2. | Please dont hesitate to reach out to me via the comments below. Visit my shop and youll find more postcards, beautiful prints, and eye-catching city maps. This post may contain affiliate links. They dont close, which means you have four seasons to choose from. Participants are also expected to eat temple food and learn the basics of etiquette around monks and temple staff. and other non-vegetarians doing the Templestay really enjoyed the food! There are several activities that seem relatively uniform and common across various temple stay in Korea programs. Save Money In Korea In 2023, Where To See Autumn Leaves In Korea & Seoul 2021: Best Spots, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoLPC_OoIPLiW8JiX29JEjE5VTb2BohHBMyv7_7im5aXFA3A/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1, Guide To Hiking In Korea: 21 Top Korean Hiking Tips, What Is Fan Death? Alternately, they have an information centre, located across from Jogye Temple in Seoul,where you can pick up leaflets, ask questions or book a stay. 26. This is actually really hard, but then also a good test of devotion, I guess.
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