Home > Templestay Guide > The Program > The Pre-dawn Ceremonial Service In the pre-dawn darkness, the gentle, rhythmic sound of the mokt'ak and the chants of a monk break the silence, awakening the universe that has enveloped the temple grounds and everyone therein. The melodic chanting is followed by the playing of four larger percussion instruments --the drum, the wooden fish, the cloud gong, and the large bell. Then, after everyone has filed into the Main Buddha Hall, the pre-dawn homage service begins -- chanting to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Predecessors. This ritual has been performed daily in Korean temples for as long as can be remembered. The sound of chanting echoing in the halls of large temples is particularly impressive and moving. The day starts at a temple at 3 am. As he moves slowly around the compound chanting and tapping the mokt'ak, a monk awakens all to the world of compassion and to the sound of the Dharma in hopes of leading them to the world of liberation. The monk chants Buddhist prayers in accompaniment to the sound of the mokt'ak with the fervent hope that all who hear the chanting will open their eyes and ears to the Buddha's teachings and that the chanting will relieve all visible and invisible beings of their burdens, leading them into the great awakening. This outdoor chanting also purifies the grounds and sets the atmosphere for a day of Buddhist practices. All those who awaken are invited to silently follow the monk as he purifies the grounds -- a particularly unforgettable experience in a mountain temple for anyone who visits. Awakened by this initial chanting, everyone washes up and prepares for the ceremonial service in the Main Buddha Hall. As soon as the monk finishes his rounds, other monks play the four percussion instruments in turn, and attendees file silently up to the Main Buddha Hall, where they perform the three prostrations of refuge and sit quietly awaiting the beginning of the service. As soon as the monk finishes the chants for waking and purification, a bell is rung in the Main Buddha Hall. This is then followed by the playing of four percussion instruments. The first of these, the large drum, is made of cowhide and is played to summon all earthbound creatures to the world of enlightenment. The suspended wooden fish is hollowed out from the bottom and drumsticks are played within it to summon all aquatic beings. The cloud-shaped gong is struck to summon all airborne creatures, and the large bell is tolled to summon all beings suffering in the netherworlds. The playing of these four instruments is symbolic of the Bodhisattva dedication to relieving all forms of life of their burdens and sufferings, and to lead them into pain-free world of liberation.