Korea Temple Stays Promote Buddhist Culture
ENJOY AN UNFORGETTABLE OVERNIGHT TEMPLESTAY IN A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE-LISTED BUDDHIST MOUNTAIN MONASTERY IN KOREA.
(SEOUL) Have you ever spent a night in a UNESCO World Heritage site? If you would like to feel living history or enjoy a unique get away from your daily life, here is something that you will never forget –
Templestay in a “Sansa”, meaning a Buddhist mountain monastery in Korea.
NEW ON WORLD HERITAGE LIST
A group of seven Sansa located throughout the southern provinces of the Korean Peninsula, was added to the UNESCO’S World Heritage List in June 2018. They include Tongdosa, Buseoksa, Bongjeongsa, Beopjusa, Magoksa, Seonamsa, and Daeheungsa.
These traditional Korean temples, surrounded by mountains, have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to their openness and their continuity in preserving Korean Buddhism. These mountain monasteries have survived as living places of faith and daily religious practice for more than 1,700 years from the fourth century when Buddhism was first introduced to Korea.
TEMPLESTAY PROGRAMMES
Templestay is a good way to learn Korean Buddhism’s history, culture and tradition. Many Korean temples including UNESCO World Heritage-listed sansa offer Templestay programmes. Templestay literally means ‘staying at a temple’ allowing participants to experience a day of a Buddhist monk. Usually guests spend overnight in the temple, experiencing early morning
‘Yebul’ (Buddhist ceremony), ‘108 bae’ (108 prostrations), ‘Chamseon’ (Zen meditation) and learning how to make Buddhist prayer beads.
All meals are the vegetarian diet the monks eat, so the vegetarian can participate without any pressure. Many participants have said, “It was a very peaceful and tranquil experience. I was able to learn about Korean Buddhism and traditional culture. It was time to get to know myself.”
ENGLISH SPOKEN
Templestays are being held at a total of 137 temples across the country. Even if you cannot speak Korean at all, there is nothing to worry about as 27 temples provide Templestay programmes in English and have Englishspeaking interpreters.
If you are not sure which temple to choose, you may refer to FAQS on the Templestay’s website. It offers lists of recommended temples for meditation, hiking, temple food, and ones with convenient transportation, which will help you choose. If you have any more questions, you may send an email to the Templestay Information Center (support@templestay.com). If you are with the Templestay, you will get answers to any questions.
https:// eng.templestay.com