#templestay

[wanderlustwest]

Buddhist TempleStay

Hi everyone!

I’ve been MIA for about a month, but I’m back and ready to start blogging.

This week I’m going to talk about an overnight trip I did at a TempleStay. I am all about experiences that are good for the soul and bring peace.

There are multiple temples that offer TempleStays throughout korea. They all offer different programs so even if you try different ones, your guaranteed to have different experience. My experience was a one night stay although they offer two night stays.

We arrived around 3pm and the first day was just going over customs and meeting the Monk. We ate dinner with the monks, which they do not eat meat. Before bedtime, 9pm, the monk gave us a quick 30 minute lesson on how to properly meditate. The sleeping arrangements were different. We slept on mats, on the floor. Surprisingly, the floors were heated and I found it quite comfortable.

The next morning we woke up at 4am and participated in a morning chant. Afterwards, we went to breakfast and went back to the temple to get ready for 108 bows. 108 bows was a WORKOUT. It’s a traditional Buddhist way of of becoming one with your mind, or releasing your anxieties. I will say, I couldn’t think about my stress in life because I was too focused on how to get up and down from the bows. After ever set of bow we completed we added a bead to our bracelet.

After bows we had lunch and then the traditional tea ceremony followed. This was probably my favorite part. The tea was delicious and it gave us the opportunity to speak with the monks and ask them questions about their life as a monk and Buddhism.

This was an experience that I truly appreciated. It gave me a whole new perspective on spirituality. I really wish I was in Korea longer to do another TempleStay. For information on where to participate in a TempleStay program, visit templestay.com

(No one is sponsoring this post, I’m just sharing information that I find helpful)

Please like, reblog, and FOLLOW! I post about all my travels and NEXT month I will be taking on Europe for 3 years! I cannot wait and there will be tons of exciting experiences to be shared!

[tunerani]

Very old photo 😅 we made little lotus lamps at Sudeoksa temple back at Summer School 2 years ago 🤗🏵 . #SS2017 #summerschool #throwback #sudeoksa #sudeoksatemple #templestay #korea #southkorea #sudeoksatemplestay #daily #lotus #buddhism #buddhisttemple #temple #데이리 #수덕사템플스테이 #수덕사 #여름학교 #템플스테이 https://www.instagram.com/p/BzAdv-gIT-_/?igshid=qb538si4lotv

[weerentheworld]

Once we arrive we head to Kongobu-ji temple, the Head temple of Shingon Buddhism, and the home of Japan’s largest rock garden. First constructed in 1594, most of the rooms here are designed for relaxing and meditation. There are some really stunning ink paintings on the walls and doors, although sadly photography of the paintings is prohibited. Particularly striking are the scenes of the harbor, and a mural which portrays two Shibuya breed dogs. According to lore it was a Shibuya dog that led Kobo Daishi here. Unlike Buddhism in other areas (ex thailand), monks here can get married, drink, and own expensive property such as nice cars. Tonight we are staying in a Buddhist temple guesthouse. After being shown our rooms we all immediately head to the baths since it's our only chance to wash. The onsen here is more modern, and quite crowded as almost all the group is here at once given our limited time frame. After cleaning up we are shown to our traditional dinner- all the food is vegetarian here, and though we don't know what most of it is it's pretty tasty. After dinner some time is spent filling out review forms for contiki and then we all pile into one room to play games (the gates to the temple are shut and locked at 9, so there's not much else to do.) Although we've been warned to be quite after dinner, on the way back to our rooms we pass what seems to be the rec room for the monks- despite the late hour they are having quite the party!

[girlsnevertravellight]

Japan - 2016

[girlsnevertravellight]

Japan - 2016

[girlsnevertravellight]

Japan - 2016

[girlsnevertravellight]

Japan - 2016

[girlsnevertravellight]

Japan - 2016