Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live like a Buddhist monk for a weekend? To experience the tranquility and simplicity of temple life, away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Well, that’s exactly what we did when we decided to join a temple stay program at Beopjusa (법주사) Temple, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Korea.

What is a Temple Stay?

A temple stay is a cultural program that allows visitors to stay at a Buddhist temple and learn about its history, culture, and practices. It is a great way to immerse yourself in the spiritual and natural beauty of Korea, as well as to relax and recharge your mind and body.

There are many temples in Korea that offer temple stay programs, each with different themes and activities. You can choose from meditation, tea ceremony, calligraphy, hiking, cooking, and more. You can also choose the duration of your stay, from a few hours to several days.

We booked our temple stay at Beopjusa Temple through this website.

How to Get There

Beopjusa (법주사) Temple is located in Songnisan National Park, in the province of Chungcheongbuk-do. It is about three hours away from Seoul by bus. We took the bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Songnisan Terminal, which cost around 15,000 won per person.

Just before we arrived, you can see at Eunguseok park (은구석공원), the tree that participate to the legend of king Sejong. We arrived at Songnisan around lunchtime, and we quickly grabbed a bite at a nearby restaurant, as we were so enthusiast. After lunch, we walked to the temple, which took about 30 minutes. Along the way, we saw the magnificent three-story stone pagoda of Beopjusa Temple, which is one of the national treasures of Korea.

What to Expect

We then joined a group of other participants, who were mostly foreigners like us. Then, we had a brief orientation session, where we learned about the rules and etiquette of the temple. We also learned how to do prostrations, which are gestures of respect and gratitude that involve bowing and kneeling.

After the tour, we went to the main hall, where we joined the monks for an evening ceremony. We listened to their chanting and drumming, which was very soothing and mesmerizing. Then, we had an activity where we made bracelets out of wooden beads. Each bead represented a prayer or a wish that we had (needs to stand up and go down to pray for each bead). We strung them together with a thread. The bracelets were supposed to remind us of our intentions and goals.

We then had dinner at the dining hall, where we ate some simple but tasty vegetarian food. We had rice, soup and some side dishes. The food was prepared with fresh ingredients from the temple garden. We ate in silence, following the principle of mindful eating.

After dinner, we went to a singing bowl meditation session, where they listened to the soothing sounds of metal bowls that were struck with mallets. The sounds were supposed to calm the mind and induce relaxation.

Finally, we join the last evening ceremony, where we walked around the temple with lanterns in our hands. We followed the monks as they chanted and rang bells. The ceremony was meant to tell the animals that it was time to go to sleep. It was very impressive and beautiful to see the temple illuminated by lanterns.

After that, we went back to our rooms and prepared for bed. We slept on thin mattresses on the floor, with blankets and pillows. The rooms were simple but cozy. We had to wake up early the next morning for another ceremony.

The Next Day

We woke up before sunrise, at 4:00 am. We joined the monks for a morning ceremony at the main hall, where they chanted and played gongs. The ceremony was meant to wake up the animals and greet the new day. It was still dark outside, but we could see the stars in the sky. The atmosphere was wonderful.

After the ceremony, we had a quick breakfast at the dining hall. We had some rice and soup like dinner. We then followed the monks for a hike in the mountains. It was very nice to walk in nature with them, and to breathe the fresh air. The scenery was stunning, with colorful leaves and flowers.

We reached a small place on the top of the mountain that’s look like a turtle, where we enjoy the sunrise and contemplate the temple below. We felt very peaceful and relaxed.

We then walked down slowly, enjoying the views and the sounds of nature. We returned to the temple around noon, and packed our bags. Then, we had a final lunch at the dining hall, where we thanked the monks and the staff for their hospitality.

We then left the temple and walked back to the bus terminal. We took the bus back to Seoul, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Conclusion

We had a very relaxing weekend at Beopjusa Temple. We learned a lot about Buddhism and temple life, and we experienced a different way of living. All of us, enjoyed the atmosphere of the temple, which was very serene and harmonious.

We highly recommend doing a temple stay if you are looking for a unique and meaningful experience in Korea. It is a great way to escape from the stress and noise of the city, and to connect with yourself and nature.

We hope you enjoyed reading our blog post, and we hope you will try a temple stay yourself someday!