Korean Job Discussion Forums

whatever · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Location: Korea: More fun than jail.

I was thinking of planning an upcoming 4-5 day temple stay somewhere, probably travelling alone. Would appreciate some simple time for reflection and get away from the city.

For those who have done one, even an overnighter, could you please share some tips on what to expect, seek out or avoid, advice on what to bring and not, and any recommendations on a temple that you enjoyed visiting?

What expenses are involved? I am willing to offer labor in exchange for accomodation and/or pay for the privilege...

Thanks for anything that you have to share!

ghettofabulous · Joined: 29 Dec 2008

bump

I'm looking into doing a temple stay also. Right now I'm considering Tongdosa near Yangsan, Gyeongsannam-do, Golgulsa near Gyeongju, or Lotus Lantern on Gangwha-do, Incheon. I want to know about any of your temple stay experiences at these temples or anywhere else. What did and didn't you like? What temple have you or friends had a good experience at?

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Go to a temple and just sit in the same spot for a very long time. Eventually someone will come and ask you in English if you need some assistance or where you are from. You can reply with:

"I have not food, nor water, nor a way to travel home. I seek enlightenment and a way to live without possessions"

You'll be a big hit and I'm sure they'll set you up for a few days!

ghettofabulous · Joined: 29 Dec 2008

haha youre so funny.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Thanks!

isthisreally · Joined: 01 Sep 2007

I'm not a huge fan of the English website. As I'm under the impression that you can almost just show up at places and they'll take you in for a donation.

http://eng.templestay.com

Check this in internet explorer. Click M to watch movies. Other links weren't working for me.

http://www.templestay.com/temple/templestay_service.asp?areacode=1,2,4,9,10

I went to one of the big temples in Insadong a while back and met with a nun who spoke English there and she was going to set up a stay for me, but I never followed through. I'm either going to try that again or get my girlfriend to call one of the temples for me. I'll update on my progress as I have 10 days off in 1.5 weeks which I'm planning to do 4-5 at a temple.

ghettofabulous · Joined: 29 Dec 2008

awesome. thanks for the link. let me know which temple you stay at and how it goes. have a great vacation =)

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I would reccommend Mihwangsa. The scenery can't be beat, it's totally remote, and they're friendly as all out.

laguna · Joined: 27 Jun 2010

...but why?

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261962
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_4_5.jsp

Make sure you visit a temple that is more used to English speakers (i.e., they have activities that are routinely planned in English). I did a templestay at a temple, although lovely, was completely in Korean! It was trying at times, even with know some Korean and I'm sure I missed a ton of info and experience because of the language limitation.

It is a worthwhile experience, although I don't think I would do it again soon.

ghettofabulous · Joined: 29 Dec 2008

Jane: thanks for the links, and which temple did you stay at?

ChopchaeJoe: Did anyone speak English at Mihwangsa or was it all in Korean?

I'd like to go somewhere that has some activities in English so I can get more from my experience.

littlelisa · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I know they do temple stays at Mihwangsa but I only visted there twice. A woman there who works in the office is fluent in English. The monks are, um, English-friendly(?) but not sure how much they might know. On one visit there was a visiting class of youngsters and all of them had a bit of English. in all it's an amazing place. There's a ridge behind the temple you can climb up and can probably see all the way to jeju with binoculars on a clear day. maybe not.

Not a bad gift shop (aways a bit from the actual temple buildings) as well if you want something to remember your stay.

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

I went to Sudeoksa in Chungnam province. It's a very beautiful part of Korea with one of the big temples, but the temple stay program was poorly organized and not well thought out and executed. It was an unplanned last minute unprepared situation from start to finish, but has potential if they put some effort into professionally planning and preparing the event while making modifications to make it more highly stylized to give foreign tourists and Koreans alike a blow your mind experience. It's a bit too strict, boring, and confusing not to say it's a complete write off, because it still offers a unique experience into Buddhism and traditional Confucian values.

Despite the awesome highly stylized art of the temples and Buddhism itself might give you an impression it's the, "liberal open minded free loving lifestyle," this is no cake walk in the park way to spend a weekend or however long you stay. It's very much a truly ultra conservative culture and you are participating in a very strict environment. The long monk talks in Korean are grueling as are the 108 bows and long sitting times you are supposed to be doing some sort of meditation. Personally good music is my meditation tool; not staring at a blank wall so I only enjoyed the temple ceremonies and early morning hiking. These words like, "jeegoom," "gongi," "waygookin," "young all," and, "jookbee," came up many times, but very little English was spoken so it was difficult to follow. ???

OK, it's not a big drum party around a camp fire with traditional music while you drink green tea and talk about it all with your new mates, you do wear funny little white plastic shoes, and very little talking is allowed in what disappointingly turned out to be less than a friendly spirited experience. It takes some courage to put yourself there unless you don't realize what exactly you are signing up for in which case you might experience culture shock of things not being like postcards and movies despite being incomparably more beautiful to see in person. It's not meant to be fun, it's meant to be a minor hardship experience so you will be bombarded with some provoking negativity to challenge you such as being reduntly asked, "do you understand?" and asking if you can control your mind if confronted by an enemy as the monk draws in air through his teeth with a seriously high stress level. Please do try to wrap your mind around the fact he's a man with no personal life and severely limited social skills who spends his entire life getting up at 3am every day to play a big drum and gets only 5 hours of rest on a good day.

You should go to a temple stay to learn more about Korean culture and what Confucianism ideology is all about when doing Korea. I'm talking about extremely conservative mannered customs here; not an easy exchange leaving you wondering why they charge 50,000 won for a 24 hour stay that doesn't even include use of a bath towel while contending with impatient visitors pushing you from behind in the chow hall line who pay nothing to eat in the temple yet you are clearly virtuously paying your dues. It's an experience if you are interested in the mystique of Buddhism and Confucianism and puts the modern city life of PC bangs, stop lights, and banks into perspective. I'm glad I paid to endure such uncomfortable nonsense as to better understand the conservative manners and values of Confucianism and how it still dictates life in modern Asia still today. That's an understanding too difficult for me to put in words at this time.