This weekend I got to know Buddha a little better. I went with 5 other friends/new friends to a "temple stay" at Hwa Gye Sa International Zen Center and monastery. It took about 45 minutes by subway and bus to reach our destination. It was surrounded by for forest and it was right next to a small mountain. I went into it with no expectations because I had no clue what I was getting myself into. We arrived at 2 pm Saturday afternoon. We got out room assignments and our fabulous brown vest that we had to wear all weekend. The vest reminded me of something I would wear if I worked at Walmart. It was awesome. We had an introduction meeting with our "master" (head monk of the monastery) who told us what our schedule would be like and taught us how to do three bows. The significance of bowing is 1. respect and 2. releasing all of our "junk" from inside of us (worldly thoughts/worries) and dropping them to the ground. After we headed to the mountain for a hike, which is used as a meditation tool. The monks are very healthy- eat well and exercise everyday.
Dianne, Brittney, and I Checking out the nice view on the hike. AMAZING.
The sanctuary was so packed Sunday afternoon that people had to chant/bow outside.
Rock piles of wishes/prayers/thoughts.
Our "master". A pretty sweet guy.
After the hike, we headed to dinner. It was so good! They served my favorite Korean meal- Bibimbop. It is rice (bop), veggies (mushrooms, carrots, lettuce, etc), spicy sauce, egg, and seaweed, YUMMM. Apparently, that is their typical menu because we ended up having it at every meal. (YES!)
A monk ringing the drum signifying the beginning of the evening sessions of chanting and meditation.
After dinner, we headed up to the meditation room for two, 30 minute blocks of meditation with a 10 minute break in between for us visitors. Before we entered and left the room, we had to bow our heads to these gold statues of Buddha. Then we choose a mat to sit on and waited for the session to begin. We sat on pillows and had to have our legs crossed and create an egg shape with our hands. I couldn't move my legs when we were finished. It was painful. After meditation, we headed to the sanctuary place (I have no clue what it was called) for chanting and bowing. Again the room was filled with TONS of gold Buddhas. It was kinda creepy. The ceiling was filled with lotust lanterns. The lotust is a very important symbol in Buddhism due to it's difficult blooming process. The flower itself blooms in mud, thus it has to have the perfect conditions . If people are able to have a lotust flower bloom in their own lives, it means they have reached Enlightenment. They have somehow made it through the dark, thick mud of humanity to become an "Enlightened one". After the wonders of chanting were over, we had a short discussion about our sessions and then went to bed at 9:00. I haven't gone to bed that early since junior high. We were woken up at 3:00 AM for 45 minutes of meditation, which included bowing 108 times. Yes, 108 times. I tried to keep up, but these monks were machines. I think all of us foreigners maybe did half the amount. I couldn't feel my legs when we were finished. Pleasant. NOT. Oh, and when I say bowing, I do not mean bowing my head. We bowed with our WHOLE body-standing up, then going down to our knees, then putting hands and head on the mat, and then getting up using only your legs. IT WAS SOOOOOO HARD. The monks must have fabulous legs. I am sooo sore right now. PLUS, try doing that at 3:45 AM. We then headed to the sanctuary for more chanting and bowing. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I realized I was going to have to bow MORE. Pain.
We ended the morning at 6:00 AM with breakfast and cleaning of the temple grounds. Then we all took a nap and missed our last 30 minute session of meditation, which we all wanted to go to but our bodies were not cooperating.
Many of you may be wondering why I would go on a "temple stay" when I claim to be a Christian. Well, I believe that is it really important to be educated and learn about other cultures other than my own. Many people in Korea and the world practice Buddhism and I wanted to be more informed about it and try to understand it. Also, I wanted to be able to tell my future students about my experiences in Asia and this is part of Asian culture. When I was participating in the activities of meditation and bowing, I was not picturing Buddha as I was bowing but of my own God. Jesus. Also, I only observed the chanting. They were speaking in Korean, so it was very difficult to participate nor did I really want to.
SO, What I learned.... Errr... MORE confused about...It was A LOT...
- Buddhism is filled with MANY rituals that I don't quite understand nor see how they are important. Although, some may say the same things of Christianity.
- People give sacrificial gifts to Buddha, but I don't understand the significance. He is a not a God to them nor does he have any power. Buddhism is about finding Enlightenment inside yourselves, yet they bow to statues of Buddha that have nothing to do with reaching their own Enlightenment inside themselves. It seems like a waste to me. I hope they use all of the fruit and other foods that are offered to Buddha.
- Our "master" was very careful not to give us to much insight or information about things because it was our responsibility to find the answers inside ourselves. He did not want to sway us from reaching our own Enlightenment. One of his students was trying to find an answer to an ancient riddle-like story. The "master" wouldn't tell her the answer and it took her 2 YEARS to get it right. How frustrating! I am glad that I have a Teacher who will give me the answers and I don't have to rely on my own genius self for them.
- Monks are very welcoming, generous, and loving people. I think they could do a lot of good within this world if they left the monastery more often. Meditating for 9 hours a day isn't helping feed starving children or cleaning up our Earth.
- I have new sense of thankfulness. I am thankful for my faith and religion. I am thankful that I do not have to rely on myself to reach Enlightenment because I am far too selfish and too human to ever get to that place. I am thankful that I am never alone in my fight on this Earth.
- There was a quote inside the meditation room that said something like " In the 24 hours of each day, I will not make anything." I don't understand the meaning or what "making" is referring to, but I am thankful that I am able to use my mind, and use it hopefully for good. I make mistakes daily, but I know that I am forgiven. phew.
- Basically, I now have more questions than answers about Buddhism, so I need to read up on it.
Overall, I had a wonderful weekend full of learning. I am so glad that I went. I was a peaceful and self-awakening weekend. I will probably be sore for a few days, but at least I will have rock-hard, toned legs for a few days. Also, I have a greater appreciation for Buddhism, it's culture, and it's people.
yahhooo.
ps. I can feel my toes now.
The sanctuary was so packed Sunday afternoon that people had to chant/bow outside.
Rock piles of wishes/prayers/thoughts.
Our "master". A pretty sweet guy.
After the hike, we headed to dinner. It was so good! They served my favorite Korean meal- Bibimbop. It is rice (bop), veggies (mushrooms, carrots, lettuce, etc), spicy sauce, egg, and seaweed, YUMMM. Apparently, that is their typical menu because we ended up having it at every meal. (YES!)
A monk ringing the drum signifying the beginning of the evening sessions of chanting and meditation.
After dinner, we headed up to the meditation room for two, 30 minute blocks of meditation with a 10 minute break in between for us visitors. Before we entered and left the room, we had to bow our heads to these gold statues of Buddha. Then we choose a mat to sit on and waited for the session to begin. We sat on pillows and had to have our legs crossed and create an egg shape with our hands. I couldn't move my legs when we were finished. It was painful. After meditation, we headed to the sanctuary place (I have no clue what it was called) for chanting and bowing. Again the room was filled with TONS of gold Buddhas. It was kinda creepy. The ceiling was filled with lotust lanterns. The lotust is a very important symbol in Buddhism due to it's difficult blooming process. The flower itself blooms in mud, thus it has to have the perfect conditions . If people are able to have a lotust flower bloom in their own lives, it means they have reached Enlightenment. They have somehow made it through the dark, thick mud of humanity to become an "Enlightened one". After the wonders of chanting were over, we had a short discussion about our sessions and then went to bed at 9:00. I haven't gone to bed that early since junior high. We were woken up at 3:00 AM for 45 minutes of meditation, which included bowing 108 times. Yes, 108 times. I tried to keep up, but these monks were machines. I think all of us foreigners maybe did half the amount. I couldn't feel my legs when we were finished. Pleasant. NOT. Oh, and when I say bowing, I do not mean bowing my head. We bowed with our WHOLE body-standing up, then going down to our knees, then putting hands and head on the mat, and then getting up using only your legs. IT WAS SOOOOOO HARD. The monks must have fabulous legs. I am sooo sore right now. PLUS, try doing that at 3:45 AM. We then headed to the sanctuary for more chanting and bowing. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I realized I was going to have to bow MORE. Pain.
We ended the morning at 6:00 AM with breakfast and cleaning of the temple grounds. Then we all took a nap and missed our last 30 minute session of meditation, which we all wanted to go to but our bodies were not cooperating.
Many of you may be wondering why I would go on a "temple stay" when I claim to be a Christian. Well, I believe that is it really important to be educated and learn about other cultures other than my own. Many people in Korea and the world practice Buddhism and I wanted to be more informed about it and try to understand it. Also, I wanted to be able to tell my future students about my experiences in Asia and this is part of Asian culture. When I was participating in the activities of meditation and bowing, I was not picturing Buddha as I was bowing but of my own God. Jesus. Also, I only observed the chanting. They were speaking in Korean, so it was very difficult to participate nor did I really want to.
SO, What I learned.... Errr... MORE confused about...It was A LOT...
- Buddhism is filled with MANY rituals that I don't quite understand nor see how they are important. Although, some may say the same things of Christianity.
- People give sacrificial gifts to Buddha, but I don't understand the significance. He is a not a God to them nor does he have any power. Buddhism is about finding Enlightenment inside yourselves, yet they bow to statues of Buddha that have nothing to do with reaching their own Enlightenment inside themselves. It seems like a waste to me. I hope they use all of the fruit and other foods that are offered to Buddha.
- Our "master" was very careful not to give us to much insight or information about things because it was our responsibility to find the answers inside ourselves. He did not want to sway us from reaching our own Enlightenment. One of his students was trying to find an answer to an ancient riddle-like story. The "master" wouldn't tell her the answer and it took her 2 YEARS to get it right. How frustrating! I am glad that I have a Teacher who will give me the answers and I don't have to rely on my own genius self for them.
- Monks are very welcoming, generous, and loving people. I think they could do a lot of good within this world if they left the monastery more often. Meditating for 9 hours a day isn't helping feed starving children or cleaning up our Earth.
- I have new sense of thankfulness. I am thankful for my faith and religion. I am thankful that I do not have to rely on myself to reach Enlightenment because I am far too selfish and too human to ever get to that place. I am thankful that I am never alone in my fight on this Earth.
- There was a quote inside the meditation room that said something like " In the 24 hours of each day, I will not make anything." I don't understand the meaning or what "making" is referring to, but I am thankful that I am able to use my mind, and use it hopefully for good. I make mistakes daily, but I know that I am forgiven. phew.
- Basically, I now have more questions than answers about Buddhism, so I need to read up on it.
Overall, I had a wonderful weekend full of learning. I am so glad that I went. I was a peaceful and self-awakening weekend. I will probably be sore for a few days, but at least I will have rock-hard, toned legs for a few days. Also, I have a greater appreciation for Buddhism, it's culture, and it's people.
yahhooo.
ps. I can feel my toes now.
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