South Korea has opened its more than 7,000 temples and monasteries to tourists eager to learn more about the country's Buddhist culture and tradition.
With the slogan "Find Yourself in Korea" visitors can experience life behind monastery walls at prices ranging from US$40 to US$60 per night and person.
The idea goes back to the year 2002 when South Korea hosted the soccer World Cup and the government asked the monks to make additional beds available for fans. The idea soon found acceptance and was kept on.
PHOTO: DPA
"Success is coming slowly but it is coming," says Hyun-Yeong Yeong of the Templestay Division. Last year some 32,000 Koreans and 3,000 foreign visitors made use of the program.
Every temple is different. The Beomeosa Temple in the far north of the country with its elaborately designed buildings and well decorated prayer rooms fits the typical image. The Silleuksa from the 13th century has much to offer in daily ritual. While some monasteries are active with more than 100 monks, others have only a handful.
Sometimes the room is just an empty cell with no bed, cupboard or table, sometimes it is in a large dormitory with sliding doors. The typical 24-hour Temple trip starts on a Saturday afternoon and includes a bell ritual with dharma drums, rhythmical sweeping with brooms, liturgical song, meditation at sunrise, tea ceremony and repeated kneeling for prayers.
Each visitor is given a flyer with the rules written down. "Don't wear any colorful clothing in the temple" and, "Don't act individually."
After the first introduction comes the first challenge. "We will now make some lampions," the monk Chang See Yong in Silleuksa tells us. The laterns are made from paper and shaped like a lotus flower with a candle in the middle.
"The light symbolizes the wisdom of Buddhism," the monk explains as the visitors start practising the handicraft.
At 4am we are woken by the powerful temple bells chiming at least two dozen times. Dressed in sandals and uniform monastery dress the sleepy group marches single file, lantern in hand across the dark monastery square.
A monk hums a meditative liturgy and asks the group to join in. Our hosts promise "perfect harmony" between nature and the teachings of Buddha.
In total we will fall to our knees 108 times, surrounded by candles, Buddha statues and the smell of incense. "Each time is for the pains of life and respect for the Buddha," the monk explains.
Depending on the time of year or the ceremony the ritual can be performed several thousand times.
Social work is part of the programme. Equipped with a simple broom both the monks and visitors sweep the dusty paths and squares in the temple complex.
Apart from the prayer rituals and tea ceremony the monks take their time to introduce the "balwoogongyang," the typical meal.
"Disciplined eating helps me to find Buddha and reminds me that I am nothing special," the monk Po Mun tells us. "It is a method of showing respect to each other and that we are all equal."
Every person is given four simple bowls filled with rice, soup, vegetable and water. Silence is compulsory to concentrate spiritually on the eating.
While for most visitors the temple visit is just a brief experience of daily life in a monastery, others use the opportunity to talk to a monk about any problem they might have.
More information at www.tour2korea.com, or www.templestaykorea.com.
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