I have heard a lot about Temple Stays and that it was one of the things to do while in Korea. Lin found one located on Ganghwa Island called the Jeondeungsa Temple. Supposedly it is the oldest temple in this historical region and is completely encircled by the Samnang Fortress. It was designed to help protect the land from foreign invaders. Jeondeungsa currently has a Daeoongbojeon (Main Buddha Hall), Yaksajeon (Medicine Buddha Hall), and giant temple bell, among other cultural treasures. "One interesting story is that on one of the eaves of the Main Buddha Hall there is the figure of a naked woman, presumably carved by the broken-hearted carpenter whom she had scorned."
The first part of the temple stay was getting there. When they say its on an island, they don't mention how far out this temple happens to be. It took 2 trains, 2 buses, a taxi and 6.5 hours to arrive.
Regular Temple Stay Schedule
First day
13:00 Registration & room allocation
(The room was just large enough for two floor mats and our things)
14:00 Orientation - Familiarization with basic temple rules & practices
(You need to walk quietly with your hands folded in front of you and bow to any passing monks)
15:00 Temple tour
(We were shown the many building mentioned above)
17:00 Temple dinner
(Do not put more on your plate than you will eat. You can go back for seconds, but there is no wasting food)
18:00 Buddhist Ceremonial Service (To experience striking a bell)
(We partnered up and each got to strike the bell)
18:30 Healing Yoga or seon meditation
(I didn't quit master the art of meditation. Instead I kept falling asleep)
(Early bedtime! But we did it)
Second day
04:00 Wake up
(I usually see this time going to bed...not waking up)
04:30 Buddhist Ceremonial Service (Ye-bool)
(We met in the hall for some more chanting and bowing)
05:00 108 Prostrations & Seon Meditation
(These are 108 bows or prostrations (which are like promises) I was sore for the next couple of days. lol)
06:00 Balwoo Gongyang (Formal monastic meal)
(We got to eat breakfast with the monks. This is a silent meal. Everybody sits on the floor and the bowls get passed around while you get what you want to eat)
07:30 Community works
(These consisted of cleaning up the grounds. Which didn't take long as the grounds are well taken care of.)
(This really wasn't much of a walk. It was more of a hike. The very beginning was straight up and at one point we went down into a valley and back up. A rope was need to help maintain our balance as it was steep and there was snow on the ground)
(During the morning Lin and I met someone from Germany (Kurt) and two Korean's (Pilwon and Siwan) that have lived in Canada since they were 14. We used this time to hang out with them.)
09:30 Tea time with a monk (tea ceremony)
(This was a formal tea ceremony were we sat around in a circle drinking tea and eating a small snack. Pilwon ans Siwan were our translators)
11:00 Room Cleaning
(That took a long time lol)
11:30 Temple Lunch
(Much like dinner the night before where we chose what we ate. It was bibimpap)
12:00 Check out
(After check out Lin, Pilwon, Siwan, Kurt and I ended up in a private tea time with a monk. That was nice)
Oh yea! One last look at our super cool outfits!!
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