TEMPLESTAY

During Lunar New Year's holidays, there are several temples providing Special Templestay.

Here is the list of temples.
If you'd like to join the program, please contact to the temple you want to do.

   From July 29 until August 21, the temple Geumsan-sa (www.geumsansa.org, abbot: Won Haeng Sunim) will be hosting a summer Templestay program entitled “I Need a Break.”  The event will take place on four separate occasions, with each program lasting for three days/two nights and involving 100 participants.

   This program, developed under the concept of “Leave It Alone,” is being run by Il Gam Sunim of Geumsan-sa, who hopes that the approximately one-hundred participants from 3-40 different work places can find at least one chance this summer to take a good rest.

 
   For a period of three days and two nights, participants can find freedom from their personal hindrances through activities such as ‘Escape,’ walking on forest paths, Il Gam Sunim’s “Leave It Alone” concert, 108 prostrations, Seon Meditation and so on.

    This is a group-oriented program - in particular, during each “Let me Alone” concert Il Gam Sunim will run a kind of talk show, featuring special guests such as Je-Youn Gang, who completed a journey to island villages, Yong-Taek Kim, author of the poem “Seom Jin River,” Jong-Jin Im, who runs the “Snail Photo Booth” exhibition, and also Seon Jae Sunim, who will talk about temple food.

   Il Gam Sunim, who is head of the Geumsan-sa training facility, explained that “The ‘Leave It Alone’ concert points one towards the equanimity inherent in things, just the way they are.”  He also said that, “One can enjoy freedom from stress; it’s a decision to return to a view of life without relative distinctions, before anger arises - cultivating a joyful passion.”

   The concert will also feature Chang-Seon Lee’s “Gukak (traditional Korean music) Fusion Band,” the Indie band You & Kim, Ajaeng(a seven-stringed instrument)  performer Yeong-Gil Kim, Tae-Yeon Lee and other musicians active in the region.

  Geumsan-sa temple is developing this Buddhist cultural concert with the hopes of striving towards a healthier society, using a variety of different images, courtesy of Templestay.

   The three day/two night program costs KRW 90,000.  It’s possible to register by visiting the Geumsan-sa Templestay website.

Website: www.geumsansa.org

Phone: 063-542-0048.

Schedule of dates for the Geumsan-sa “I Need a Break” program:

- Program 1 : 7.29 ~ 7.31

- Program 2 : 8.01 ~ 8.03

- Program 3 : 8.05 ~ 8.07

- Program 4 : 8.19 ~ 8.21

 

 

Buddha’s Teachings on the Kindness of Parents

 

 

Sutra on the Infinite Benevolence of Parents

 

 

 “No matter how much you try, you can never completely repay the kindness of two people: your mother and father.”

-The Buddha

 

 

■ My Parents and I: Countless Eons of Karmic Affinity

The month of May is very special in Korea because of “Parents’ Day”, when we express our gratitude for the kindness and love of our parents. The Korean government designated the entire month of May as “Family Month,” a time when parents and children are encouraged to get closer and develop more of a bond with each other. The tradition of filial piety is deeply rooted in Korean society, and as Parents’ Day is one of the most important holidays of the year, on this day people prepare flowers and engage in many activities for the benefit of their parents. When Buddha was alive, he spoke of the profound, all-encompassing compassion of one’s parents. The Sutra on the Infinite Benevolence of Parents carefully details the kindness of parents, as they conceive, give birth to and then raise their offspring; it also speaks of our obligation to them. The relationship between parents and their children creates a family, which can be both a source of joy and sadness. While in one sense, this connection we have with our parents is due to coincidence, it is also incredibly miraculous. Where did this connection originate from? There is a concept of infinite time called a kalpa or eon. This is the period of time during which a universe is created and destroyed, so it cannot be easily calculated or represented numerically; it is best thought of it terms of infinity. In Buddhism it is said that even just brushing past someone on the street means that you have five hundred kalpas of affinity together with them. It takes eight hundred kalpas of karmic affinity for a parent and child to meet each other; this means the time during which a universe is created and destroyed eight hundred times. Therefore, the bond between parents and children is never without effort, it is only possible after returning from an arduous journey.

 

 ■Parents: The Mountain and Sea of Life

 During the Buddha’s life, at one point he saw a pile of bones by the side of the road; he stopped and prostrated himself before them out of respect. His disciples were surprised, so Buddha explained, “These dried bones were my parents in a past life, so I show respect for them.” He then proceeded to outline the ten kinds of kindness shown by parents:

 - The kindness of conceiving, then providing protection and caring for the child in the womb.

- The kindness of bearing suffering during birth.

- The kindness of forgetting all the pain once the child has been born.

- The kindness of eating the bitter and saving the sweet for the child.

 - The kindness of moving the child to a dry place while the mother lies in the dampness herself.

- The kindness of the mother suckling the child at her breast, nourishing and raising the child.

- The kindness of washing away the unclean.

- The kindness of always thinking of the child when it is far away.

 - The kindness of deep care and devotion.

- The kindness of unlimited sympathy for the child.

 

In particular, Buddha lectured in surprising detail on the kindness of mothers. He said that, “If we look at men, they eat good food their whole lives, listen to Dharma speeches, and then have many kinds of experiences, so that even when they die, their bones are still white and dense. Women, on the other hand, bleed a lot in the process of childbirth, have to endure incredible suffering in their bodies, and struggle their entire lives, so their bones are black and brittle.” One human being, spun around and around for eight-hundred kalpas, this is his eternal mountain and sea - taking care of his life, watching over it. It is none other than the kindness of our parents. Buddha said that right now, in this moment, if parents and children don’t respect and appreciate each other, then without doubt next life they will suffer miserably due to the debt that must be repaid.

 

 ■ Experience the Sutra on the Infinite Benevolence of Parents in Korea

 It is not precisely known when the Sutra on the Infinite Benevolence of Parents was first transmitted to Korea, but there are sutra tablets with text and illustrations dating from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910 C.E.) that are considered treasures. In particular, the temple Yongju-sa has a wooden tablet copy of the sutra which dates from 1796; a copper plate and stone tablet version based on this original, made in 1802, are also preserved there. In the hope that many people would read and benefit from this sutra, versions were made in both the original Chinese characters and Korean translation. Illustrations from the well-known Joseon Dynasty artistic genius Hongdo Kim (Danwon) were also included. The temple Yongju-sa currently runs a Templestay program entitled Filial Piety every day of the year. They hope that all participants in their temple’s Templestay program will have a chance to become better acquainted with the Sutra on the Infinite Benevolence of Parents.

 

 

   Every year during the summer retreat season, known as Ha-angeo in Korean, practitioners do not leave the temple grounds, but instead devote themselves solely to the practice of self-investigation.  The retreat lasts for a period of three months, from April 15 until July 15 according to the lunar calendar, during which time no one may leave the temple at all; all participants are expected to only concentrate on the practice of Seon meditation.

   Originally the Korean word angeo is derived from the Sanskrit word vasah, which means “rain.”  During the Buddha’s lifetime, he and the other practitioners refrained from venturing outside the temple grounds during the rainy season, and instead focused on their individual practice.  Not only was it difficult to travel during that time of year, but it was also a time when many sentient beings were moving about, so one could accidently kill many insects and other creatures without even knowing it. 

   This tradition was adopted in Korea, with its four distinct seasons, so as Seon practice evolved eventually a winter retreat season also arose in addition to the summer season; for the past seventeen-hundred years the basic form of the practice has not changed at all.  When one cuts down on unnecessary movement, it also diminishes the unnecessary destruction of life – this is the spirit of the summer retreat season that has been carried forth until today.  Therefore, during the summer retreat season many practitioners take care to be mindful of their every step, which they consider to be a part of their practice.

   Due to differences in the amount of rainfall in various regions, the angeo period is divided into different periods, “before, middle, and after.” Typically the beginning of angeo is called gyeoljae, and the finish is called haejae.  When a practitioner leaves the temple in the middle of the retreat, it is called paha, behavior which is strongly discouraged by the Seon community.  During the summer season in Korea, usually around fifteen hundred practitioners cultivate themselves at the five core monasteries and eighty Seon centers throughout the country.

    The summer retreat is typically divided into three different types of practice schedules; practitioners typically sit Seon meditation for 8-10 hours per day, though some attempt more intensive schedules of 12-14 hours per day.  There is also an intensive section during the last week before the end of the retreat called Yongmaeng Jeongjin, which is rigorous period of practice of more than twelve hours a day – though it’s not an exaggeration to say that this is just the beginning of one’s cultivation.  When the final day of the retreat arrives, the participants confess their transgressions to everyone as another way of disciplining their deluded minds.

    Every July 17 by the lunar calendar, which is the final day of the summer retreat, also coincides with the Korean equivalent of All Saints Day, when one pays respect to deceased relatives.  This final day of the summer retreat season is also a fresh start for practitioners as they embark on a new path of practice yet again.  On a brilliant summer’s day, when the whole world is full color and numerous creatures bustle about, the life of practitioners in mountain temples is truly connected with all sentient beings.  

 

 

■  Gangwon Province, Woljeong-sa temple

                                        [Templestay Seon meditation program for beginners]

   This is a unique Templestay program which gives beginners the chance to experience Seon meditation at Woljeong-sa, a temple well-known for its “short-term ordination” program.  The schedule encourages participants to use meditation as a way to harmonize with their natural surroundings and nurture the environment.

-         Dates: June 4 (Saturday) – June 6 (Monday) 2011 (3 days, 2 nights)

-         Participants: Anyone older than high-school age may participate.  It is also possible for non-Korean participants to attend.

-         Information: Applicants should call the Woljeong-sa office (033) 339-6606, 7

-         Woljeong-sa Templestay website:  

The Lotus Lantern Festival is from May 6 ~8, 2011. All Korean temples will be busy in preparation for the biggest Buddhist celebration of the year. However, the busiest group will be the Celebration Committee for Buddha’s Birthday. This committee is in charge for preparing for the Lantern Parade, Buddhist Street Festival, Post-Parade Celebration, and all the other festivities of the Lotus Lantern Festival. The committee also oversees the regional festivals held by temples all across Korea.
 

If you were to enter the offices of the celebration committee at the basement of the Jogye Order Administration Building, you might think it’s already festival time due to the light and joyful atmosphere with posters and lanterns all over the place.

 

The motto of the committee for the Lotus Lantern Festival is "Voluntary Participation." Each year, the committee wants to increase the volunteer participants. The committee is firmly resolved in bringing to the world this time-worn festival and the importance of Korean Buddhism. They want to show off the beauty of the Buddhist tradition in a dynamic way through the Lotus Lantern Festival.

 

Park Sang-hee is the Event Planning Coordinator. She is in charge of the preparation of the Lotus Lantern Festival and its events. She said, "The participants of the festival must be enthusiastic and joyful so that the festival-goers will be enthusiastic and joyful." She continued, "The events should have some correlation with Buddhism yet must be fun and joyful." She also admitted that dancing and music are not strong points for Buddhists. However she added, "As much as the Buddha’s Birthday is a joyous occasion, I hope that many people will participate in the events and sing and dance joyfully."

 

The Lotus Lantern Festival, which celebrates the Buddha’s Birthday, is no longer just for Buddhists. This is because not only Koreans but also numerous international guests come to the festival. Every year, our global friends experience traditional Korean culture by making lanterns and the like at the Buddhist Street Festival. They even make early reservations for seats at the Post-Parade Celebration to take part in the revelry of dancing under the traditional rain of flowers. The festival offers Koreans and foreign guests alike a unique opportunity to partake in Buddhist culture and the distinctive Korean way of having fun.

 

One foreigner had attended festivals in both North and South Korea. He observed, "The festivals that represent the North and South would be ‘Arirang’ for the North and ‘Lotus Lantern Festival’ for the South. These are the biggest festivals of both countries. The North’s festival, an event of great scope, is a government festival whereas the South’s Lotus Lantern Festival is a grand festival where the participants are volunteers." The Lotus Lantern Festival has come to represent Korea in the eyes of the world.

 

The Lotus Lantern Festival in now making new history. It is festival of the ordinary people. They are the stars of this traditional Korean folk festival. It can now match any festival in the world for splendor and excellence.

 

During festival time, from kids who can barely walk to the elderly grandmothers, all light a lantern to walk in the lantern parade. The festival has become a folk tradition where participants naturally gather to join in.

 

More information for 2011 Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul, Korea, visit the official site www.llf.or.kr